Right now, the United States government is deeply considering a very bad idea. They are seeking to deport migrants to Libya, home to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. This plan sets a very dangerous precedent. Libya has become the central transit point for asylum seekers headed for Europe, where upon arrival many are subject to extreme violence, torture and even death.
Libya’s government of national unity has unequivocally rejected the idea of using its territory as a destination for deporting migrants without prior knowledge or consent. In immediate response to the U.S. proposal, the provisional government emphatically rejected claims that it would accept migrants. They were clear that they oppose such conduct.
The response to the crisis in Libya have recently attracted wide condemnation from numerous human rights organizations. The country has earned a well-deserved reputational black eye for its draconian prison standards. Reports have documented how migrants are abused and tortured on a massive scale while in detention. Tens of thousands of people from sub-Saharan Africa are currently stuck in these large, overcrowded refugee detention centers. Instead, they frequently end up in the hands of militias and smugglers.
The U.S. State Department has expressed concern regarding these conditions, condemning Libya’s “harsh and life-threatening prison conditions” alongside the “arbitrary arrest or detention” faced by migrants. For millions, including nearly 400,000 children, there is no access to immigration courts—and therefore no access to any sort of due process. This absence of legal protections has been documented extensively in a 2023 United Nations report outlining the plight of migrants in Libya.
“Migrants have long been trafficked, tortured and ransomed in Libya. The country is in a civil war. It is not a safe place to send anyone,” – Sarah Leah Whitson
The current conditions and dangers facing migrants in Libya are appalling. Continuing abuses Human rights organizations have well-documented decades of abuses. Detention in these facilities has been called a “hellscape” in recent reports. As Amnesty International revealed, beatings and widespread sexual violence are the rule in these facilities.
“Amnesty International called these places a ‘hellscape’ where beatings are common and sexual violence is rampant. There are reports of human trafficking and even slavery.” – Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
The European Union and its member states have been accused of complicity and even conspiracy in their treatment of migrants. Critics accuse it of working with Libyan officials to capture people before they can get to Europe. Defending this collaboration, the EU has omitted to address the serious human rights abuses that are occurring inside Libya.
Claudia Lodesani, humanitarian affairs representative for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), went further in expressing their opposition to the U.S. deportation plan. Perhaps most concerning, she explained, are the draconian repercussions it could lead to. She pointed to examples from media reports as well as evidence found by human rights organizations. As such, they all reiterate that Libya is not a safe country for migrants.
“very concerned about the possible consequences of such a plan, saying reports by media outlets and human rights organisations showed that ‘Libya is not a safe country for migrants’” – Claudia Lodesani
Luca Casarini criticized the U.S. administration’s stance, labeling the deportation plan as “an endorsement of the horror that has characterised his administration’s policies since the very beginning.” He further asserted that Libya is one of the most dangerous places on Earth for migrants, where mafias and smugglers operate with impunity.
“Libya is one of the most hellish places on Earth, where mafias and smugglers operate with the complicity of the European Union. But Trump goes a step further. The American president claims ownership of this horror by deporting people to a hell that is Libya, flaunting his power. It is a move that drags our civilisation toward the abyss.” – Luca Casarini
Marco Rubio, a prominent U.S. senator, defended the deportation strategy, suggesting it was part of a broader effort to manage migration issues by sending “some of the most despicable human beings” to Libya as a favor to the country. Farther from America, better Chris Columbus. Additionally, he said: “The further away from America as you can, the better.” This hedging language suggests his intention to offload the burden to other countries.
“We are working with other countries to say: we want to send you some of the most despicable human beings; will you do this as a favour to us?” – Marco Rubio
Mirka Schäfer, from MSF, echoed their year position — that Libya is not a safe place for migrants and refugees. The organization has long shone a light on the perilous conditions that people have to endure just to pass through Libya.
“For 10 years now since our foundation, as a search and rescue organisation, we have continuously highlighted that Libya is not a safe place for migrants and refugees,” – Mirka Schäfer