A US judge in Boston has issued a temporary injunction against the Trump administration's controversial plan to deport migrants to Libya, declaring it a "clear violation" of an existing order protecting their due process rights. The move comes in light of reports from two US officials to CBS News that preparations for deporting migrants to Libya might commence soon as part of a broader crackdown on immigration policies.
In response to this potential action, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh stated on social media platform X that Libya would not accept deportations of migrants "under any pretext." This firm stance coincided with remarks from a US State Department spokesperson, who refrained from discussing the situation further.
The planned deportations have raised significant concerns as Libya has experienced ongoing conflict for over a decade, which has led the US State Department to advise against travel to the region due to risks like crime, terrorism, and civil unrest. Immigration lawyers quickly mobilized, prompting a Massachusetts judge to intervene with an urgent request to pause the deportation flights. "Multiple credible sources report that flights are preparing to immediately depart the United States carrying class members for removal to Libya," stated the attorneys in their filing.
US District Judge Brian Murphy responded swiftly, limiting the administration's ability to carry out the deportation efforts. The judge emphasized that these actions starkly contravened his previous order designed to secure the due process rights of migrants facing deportation, stipulating requirements for officials to communicate in the migrants' native languages and allowing them the opportunity to contest their removal.
When questioned about the deportation strategy, President Trump remarked he was unaware of the particulars, stating, "You'll have to ask homeland security." Libya is believed to be one of several nations approached by the Trump administration to accept deportees, with Rwanda also confirming early-stage discussions on the matter. Other countries mentioned in media reports include Benin, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, and Moldova.
The specifics surrounding the number of individuals targeted for deportation to Libya and their destination within the country remain unclear. Since the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been split between a UN-backed Western government led by Dbeibeh and the eastern regions under the control of military commander Gen Khalifa Haftar. Although Haftar's son has met with US officials, both the US State Department and Libyan representatives have stated these discussions were unrelated to deportation matters.
As Trump accelerates his administration's strategy towards mass deportations, methods have occasionally drawn controversy, including the invoking of a historic wartime law. Recently, the administration even offered incentives amounting to $1,000 for immigrants in the US illegally to encourage their voluntary departure.
