Reports say US planning to deport migrants to Libya

The United States may soon start deporting migrants to Libya, multiple reports have affirmed.

Two US officials confirmed the development to CBS on Tuesday.

The deportations, expected to be operated by the US military, could start as early as this week, the officials said.

Some of the officials who also spoke to Reuters said the deportations could even begin on Wednesday, but stressed that plans may change.

The Donald Trump-led administration has yet to officially speak on the matter.

Last week, Saddam Haftar, son of Khalifa Haftar, the leader of Libyan National Army (LNA), met US officials in Washington.

However, the US state department and a Libyan spokesperson said the meeting was not about deportations.

The country was split into two after Muammar Gaddafi, former Libyan ruler, was overthrown.

Since then, the North African country has been embroiled in a deep political and social turmoil with multiple records of human rights violations.

The country is also a route for many migrants who hope to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea.

If confirmed, the move could stir concerns from activists and rights groups who have already condemned Trump’s hardline methods of removing “illegal” migrants from the US.

It is unclear what Libya stands to gain from the reported planned partnership.

Citing internal documents and officials, CBS news named Angola, Benin, Eswatini, Moldova, and Rwanda as countries that US officials have approached for potential third country deportation arrangements.