The Libyan Anti-Illegal Immigration Department announced on Thursday that 37 undocumented migrants have been deported from the eastern city of Derna.
According to a statement published on the department’s official Facebook page, the group includes nationals from Bangladesh, Somalia, Yemen, and Chad. The migrants were transferred from the Derna detention centre to the Greater Benghazi accommodation facility to complete the remaining legal procedures before their repatriation to their countries of origin.
The department said the operation was carried out under the supervision of the General Administration for Combating Illegal Immigration, as part of ongoing efforts to regulate the presence of foreign nationals and curb irregular migration across the country’s eastern regions. It added that coordination with relevant security agencies ensured that the deportation process was conducted in line with national and international standards.
Libya remains one of the main transit points for migrants seeking to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe. The country hosts thousands of migrants from Africa and Asia, many of whom are held in detention centres awaiting repatriation or legal review.
In recent months, Libyan authorities have intensified their campaign to identify, detain, and repatriate irregular migrants in coordination with foreign embassies and international organisations. The Anti-Illegal Immigration Department reaffirmed its commitment to continuing such operations while emphasising respect for human rights and the rule of law.
Observers note that eastern Libya has seen increased migration activity in recent years, particularly through coastal cities like Derna and Benghazi, as authorities attempt to secure borders and manage migrant flows more effectively.
