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Both of Libya’s rival governments have publicly denied any involvement in a US plan to deport illegal immigrants to their country.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, initial discussions about possibly sending illegal immigrants to Libya originated from the Trump administration’s broader strategy of offshoring deportations to third countries, particularly those willing to accept migrants in exchange for diplomatic or economic incentives. According to Reuters and NPR, US officials considered Libya, despite its volatile security situation, as a potential destination, with plans reportedly including deportation flights operated by the US military. A Reuters report claimed that deportations could begin as early as May. The talk faced immediate legal challenges when US District Judge Brian Murphy warned that such removals would violate a standing court order requiring the government to provide written notice and an opportunity for illegal immigrants to raise safety concerns before being deported to a third country. In a written ruling, Murphy stated unequivocally that proceeding with deportations to Libya “would clearly violate this Court’s Order,” particularly given Libya’s documented record of abuse, arbitrary detention, and torture in migrant facilities, as noted by Human Rights Watch and the US Department of State.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, Libya’s two rival governments — the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) and the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) — have both categorically denied any agreement to receive illegal immigrants deported by the United States. The GNU released a public statement saying, “The Government of National Unity categorically denies any agreement or coordination with US authorities regarding the deportation of migrants to Libya.”
The eastern faction similarly rejected the reports, stating that migrants “will not be received through airports and ports secured by the Armed Forces, and that this is completely false and we cannot accept it at all.”
This all comes as the US and Libya are reportedly engaged in negotiations involving the potential unfreezing of approximately $30 billion in Libyan state assets — funds that have remained frozen since the fall of Gaddafi in 2011. According to sources cited by Middle East Eye, secret discussions have taken place where the Trump administration would assist in unlocking these assets, and in return, Libya would allocate around $10 billion for reinvestment into infrastructure and energy projects, particularly involving US firms such as Halliburton and Honeywell. It’s unclear if the proposed deportations could also tie in with the unfreezing of these assets.
