WASHINGTON — Libya has firmly rejected a controversial US plan to deport migrants to its territory, with both rival governments denouncing the proposal just hours after news broke that deportation flights could begin as early as Wednesday.
The Government of National Unity in Tripoli issued a statement Wednesday saying it “rejected the use of Libyan territory as a destination for deporting migrants without its knowledge or consent” and emphasized there was “no coordination with the United States regarding the reception of migrants.”
Eastern Libya’s parallel administration controlled by commander Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army also rejected the idea, stating it “violates the sovereignty of the homeland.”
The dual rejections come as three US officials told Reuters that the Trump administration was preparing to use military aircraft to transport an unspecified number of migrants to the North African country as early as this week, though they stressed plans could still change.
The proposed deportations represent a dramatic escalation of President Trump’s immigration crackdown, targeting a country the US State Department itself warns against visiting “due to crime, terrorism, unexploded landmines, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict.”
Libya remains deeply divided since its 2011 civil war, with western regions governed by a UN-recognized administration in Tripoli while the east is controlled by Haftar’s forces.
The Trump administration has reportedly been exploring deportation arrangements with multiple countries beyond Libya, including Rwanda, Benin, Eswatini, Moldova, Mongolia, and Kosovo.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted at these broader efforts last week, saying during a White House meeting: “We are working with other countries to say: We want to send you some of the most despicable human beings, will you do this as a favor to us.”
The Department of Homeland Security reports that the Trump administration has deported 152,000 people since taking office, though initial deportation figures have fallen short of Trump’s campaign promises of millions of removals.
Human rights organizations have expressed alarm at the proposed Libya deportations, noting the country’s documented record of migrant abuse.
Libya has gained infamy for its treatment of migrants, with detainees facing “brutal conditions, due process violations and even torture in immigration detention centers,” according to reports by advocates and US officials.
The UN envoy to Libya, Hannah Tetteh, recently warned the Security Council of a “surge in xenophobic and racist hate speech” in the country that had led to violence, including mass arrests and fatal shootings targeting migrants.
Legal challenges are expected if the deportations proceed, particularly given the US Supreme Court’s recent intervention temporarily blocking the removal of Venezuelan migrants over due process concerns.
Neither the Pentagon nor the White House has commented publicly on the reported deportation plans. It remains unclear whether any formal agreement was reached with Libyan authorities before the plan became public.