Human Rights Watch (HRW) has strongly condemned a reported US government plan to deport migrants to Libya, warning that such a move would expose them to severe human rights abuses. The group said in a statement that Libya remains an extremely dangerous country for migrants and asylum seekers, where torture, ill-treatment, sexual violence, and even killings are well-documented.
HRW compared the US plan to previous controversial migration cooperation between European countries and Libyan authorities. It accused the United States of following a similar path that could make Washington complicit in grave violations. Hanan Salah, HRW’s Associate Director for the Middle East and North Africa, described the proposal as “dystopian,” pointing to the lawlessness and abusive detention conditions in Libya.
The organisation noted that Libya’s detention centres are often run by unaccountable armed groups, with no proper legal oversight. Migrants intercepted or deported to Libya are typically subjected to arbitrary detention in facilities described as “hellholes.” HRW highlighted that the Trump administration’s approach to deportations shows a lack of concern for international human rights norms and due process.
Reports had suggested that migrants detained in Texas were being prepared for transfer to Libya via a military airport. However, the deportation was halted following a court ruling. US President Donald Trump later denied prior knowledge of the operation.
Despite the pause, HRW warned that the administration’s policies still signal a willingness to remove people to countries with known abuse records. The group urged Washington to abandon the Libya deportation plan entirely and called on all governments to refrain from any actions that could put migrants at risk.
HRW concluded: “No government should be complicit in sending people to Libyan hell.”
