Libya's Leaders Reject U.S. Plan for Deporting Migrants Amid Sovereignty Concerns

Libya's internationally recognized government and eastern authorities both deny any agreement with the U.S. on receiving deported migrants, raising significant concerns about the country’s treatment of refugees.

U.S. officials reported that the Trump administration intends to transfer immigrants to Libya via military flights, potentially as soon as this week. However, both the Tripoli-based government and the eastern Libyan administration under warlord Khalifa Hifter asserted on Wednesday that no such agreement was in place, highlighting a serious violation of Libya’s sovereignty.

The Tripoli government, which governs the west of the country, issued a firm denial of any “agreement or coordination” relating to the deportation of migrants, stressing its rejection of using Libyan territory for this purpose without prior knowledge or consent. They noted that while some “parallel entities” may have made arrangements with the U.S., these do not represent the official Libyan state and lack legal or political weight.

Similarly, Hifter's eastern administration also publicly dismissed the notion of any agreements regarding the resettlement of migrants, regardless of their nationality. Washington maintains formal relations solely with the government in Tripoli. However, it was revealed that Saddam Hifter, the warlord’s son and deputy general commander, recently visited Washington and met with Trump administration officials, suggesting potential clandestine agreements.

The idea of deporting individuals to Libya has raised alarms due to the country’s notorious record on migrant treatment. Libya has long been a major transit hub for those attempting to reach Europe, yet international human rights organizations have described the conditions within Libyan detention facilities as appalling. Amnesty International characterized them as “hellscapes,” documenting incidents of sexual violence against both women and children. Reports from the Global Detention Project have indicated cases of physical mistreatment, torture, forced labor, and even slavery among the migrant population in Libya.

As tensions grow over this deportation plan, both Libyan factions remain firm in their stance while the situation continues to unfold.