U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to send deported migrants to Libya has faced a roadblock following a court order stopping the deportations.
According to the BBC, the intervention followed reports that deportation flights were being prepared to transport migrants from the U.S. to Libya.
Immigration attorneys responded swiftly, filing an emergency motion urging a Massachusetts court to halt the removals.
“Multiple credible sources report that flights are preparing to immediately depart the United States carrying class members for removal to Libya,” the lawyers stated in their filing.
Judge Brian Murphy of the U.S. District Court in Boston granted the temporary injunction, asserting that the deportations violate a prior court order.
In his earlier ruling, Murphy required that migrants be given written notice in a language they understand and be provided with a meaningful opportunity to file legal claims to prevent their removal.
In his latest order, Judge Murphy emphasized that the deportations “blatantly” disregard that directive, infringing upon the due process rights of migrants facing final removal orders.
Libya issues conflicting statement
As reports circulate about U.S. deportations to Libya, the Libyan government has stated that it is unaware of any such plans to send migrants from the United States to its territory.
Libya’s Government of National Unity issued a statement rejecting the use of its land as a destination for deported migrants without its knowledge or consent.
“The Government of National Unity categorically denies any agreement or coordination with U.S. authorities regarding the deportation of migrants to Libya,” the statement read.
Khalifa Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army, which controls eastern Libya, also rejected the reports.
It stated that migrants “will not be received through airports and ports secured by the Armed Forces,” adding that “this is completely false and we cannot accept it at all.”
As part of its broader immigration enforcement agenda, the U.S. government has been seeking third-party countries willing to receive and detain undocumented immigrants.
This week, Rwanda confirmed it is in the “early stage” of talks with the U.S., while Benin, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, and Moldova have also been mentioned in media reports.
