This week, a federal judge issued a stern rebuke to the Trump administration's latest immigration maneuver—deporting migrants to third countries like Libya or Saudi Arabia without prior notice or a chance to contest their removal. In a sharply worded ruling, U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy confirmed what immigrant rights advocates have long argued: such transfers flagrantly violate court orders and basic constitutional protections.

The controversy stems from recent revelations that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in coordination with the Department of Defense, planned to deport a group of undocumented immigrants to Libya using a U.S. military aircraft. Media outlets, citing flight tracker data, reported that a C-17 military plane was scheduled to depart San Antonio's Kelly Field for Libya's Misrata Airport. According to court filings, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) even informed at least one Filipino migrant that he would be removed to Libya—despite not receiving any written notice.

But Judge Murphy was unequivocal in his warning: any such deportations without due process would “clearly violate” the Court's existing injunction.

“The Department of Homeland Security may not evade this injunction by ceding control over non-citizens or the enforcement of its immigration responsibilities to any other agency, including...the Department of Defense,” Judge Murphy wrote in his April 30, 2025, amendment to the preliminary injunction.

Let's be clear: deporting individuals to war-torn Libya, a country under a Level 4 U.S. travel advisory due to terrorism, civil unrest, and armed conflict, is not only dangerous—it's unconscionable. The United Nations has repeatedly condemned Libya's treatment of migrants, citing abuses such as arbitrary detention, forced labor, and torture. Sending vulnerable individuals there without their consent or legal recourse defies both international human rights norms and fundamental U.S. legal principles.

The Libyan government itself has denied any coordination with U.S. officials, stating plainly: “Deporting migrants to Libya was never discussed.” That hasn't stopped the Trump administration from exploring similar third-country transfers, including rumored discussions involving Rwanda.

Advocates acted swiftly. Immigrant rights groups filed an emergency motion to block these removals and demanded the return of any migrants who may have already been sent to Libya unlawfully. As this legal battle unfolds, it exposes a troubling truth about recent immigration policy: a willingness to circumvent due process in the name of deterrence.

At Saluja Law, we believe in upholding the rule of law and protecting the dignity and rights of every person—regardless of immigration status. Deportation should never be used as a political weapon, especially when it puts human lives at risk.

If you or a loved one has been threatened with deportation to a third country, or denied the right to contest your removal, contact us immediately. We are here to defend your rights and demand accountability.

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