US Judge Blocks Trump Deportation to Libya
A U.S. federal judge ruled on Wednesday that any attempt by the Trump administration to deport migrants to Libya would "clearly violate" a prior court order prohibiting expedited removals to countries where individuals could face persecution.
The order, issued by U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy, followed a Reuters report that the administration was preparing to deport migrants to Libya for the first time, despite longstanding U.S. criticism of the country’s harsh detention conditions.
Planned Deportations Draw Legal Challenge
Three U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the administration was considering deporting migrants to Libya as early as Wednesday, with the U.S. military potentially facilitating the flights. The nationalities of those facing deportation remain unclear, though relatives of one Mexican national said he had been pressured to sign deportation papers.
Immigrant rights advocates swiftly filed an emergency request to halt the deportations, arguing that sending migrants to Libya—or any transit country, such as Saudi Arabia—without due process would violate their rights. Lawyers representing migrants in a class-action lawsuit noted that individuals from Laos, Vietnam, and the Philippines were among those at risk.
Judge Murphy’s ruling reinforced an earlier injunction requiring the government to assess whether deportees could face persecution before removal.
Libya, U.S. Officials Deny Coordination
When questioned about the deportation plans, President Donald Trump said he was unaware of the details, deferring to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Pentagon redirected inquiries to the White House, which did not immediately respond.
Libya’s Government of National Unity and Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army, which controls the east, both rejected the idea of accepting U.S. deportees, calling it a violation of sovereignty.
The Trump administration has intensified immigration enforcement, deporting 152,000 people since taking office. Recent tactics include threats of fines, revocation of legal status, and deportations to contentious detention sites.
The State Department’s 2023 human rights report condemned Libya’s "life-threatening prison conditions," and its travel advisory warns U.S. citizens against visiting due to extreme instability.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently hinted at expanding deportation destinations, stating the U.S. was seeking partnerships to remove "despicable" individuals. Rwanda confirmed preliminary talks, while other nations, including Benin and Angola, have been named in reports.
Judge Murphy’s order temporarily halts the deportations, reinforcing protections for migrants’ due process rights. The administration has not yet indicated whether it will appeal.