Despite concerns from the State Department about the “life-threatening” prison conditions in Libya, the Trump administration is reportedly planning to deport groups of immigrants back to the country.
The interim government of Libya has denied these reports.
According to a Reuters article referencing three unnamed U.S. officials, deportations could occur soon. Two officials indicated that individuals without known nationalities might be sent to Libya on Wednesday, though they acknowledged that plans could change. The New York Times also confirmed the reported deportation plan.
It’s unclear what arrangements Libya would make to accept these individuals.
Libya serves as a crucial transit point for asylum seekers trying to reach Europe. For years, human rights organizations have highlighted the perilous plight of immigrants trapped in detention, subjected to the whims of militias and smugglers. Thousands from sub-Saharan Africa find themselves in overcrowded centers, facing systemic abuse and torture.
In its annual human rights report last year, the State Department emphasized Libya’s “harsh and life-threatening prison conditions” and the issue of arbitrary arrests.
Neither the White House, the State Department, nor the Department of Homeland Security immediately responded to requests for comment.
The potential deportation has drawn condemnation from aid organizations and NGOs working in the Central Mediterranean, who have long expressed alarm about the dire conditions for Libyan asylum seekers. They have accused European governments of complicity by collaborating with Libya to intercept migrants.
Mirka Schäfer, a political expert with the German organization SOS Humanity, stated, “For ten years, Libya has shown that it is not a safe place for migrants and refugees.” She referenced testimony from survivors that includes evidence of torture and other abuses in Libyan detention centers.
One individual from a rescue operation shared that a criminal group in Libya would “sell people who sell bread.”
Luca Casarini, founder of the NGO Mediterranea, criticized Trump’s reported actions as a continuation of fear-based policies. He remarked, “Libya is one of the most hellish places on Earth, run by mafia and smugglers, with the EU complicit. By deporting people to Libya, Trump is showcasing his power and deepening our civilization’s crisis.”
The Libyan national unified government has stated that it will not accept deportees without prior knowledge or consent and has indicated there was no agreement with the U.S. regarding the matter.
Immigration has been a significant issue for Trump since his campaign, and he has since taken aggressive actions, including the deployment of more troops to the southern border and plans to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.
As of Monday, approximately 152,000 people had been deported under the Trump administration, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The administration has also sought to encourage voluntary departures by threatening heavy fines and removing legal protections, even sending immigrants to notorious facilities like Guantanamo Bay and El Salvador.
Recently, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed discomfort with sending immigrants to El Salvador, suggesting the administration is seeking to broaden the list of countries available for deportation.
“We want to send some of the undesirable individuals to other countries as a favor to us,” he noted, emphasizing that further destinations from the U.S. are preferable.
Another U.S. official confirmed that Libya is among various countries under consideration for such deportations.
On April 19, the Supreme Court temporarily halted the Trump administration from deporting specific Venezuelan groups accused of gang affiliations.
The administration has invoked seldom-used wartime laws in its efforts to influence judicial rulings.
