A United States judge has blocked the President Donald Trump administration’s move to deport migrants to Libya.
Judge Brian Murphy issued the ruling in Boston late Wednesday afternoon, May 8, 2025.
He said deportations would violate his earlier order protecting migrants’ due process rights.
The court order follows a legal challenge filed urgently by immigration lawyers.
Lawyers said the US was preparing flights to deport migrants to Libya this week.
They cited “multiple credible sources” tracking imminent departures from the US.
Trump officials reportedly planned to use military flights for these removals.
Two anonymous US officials confirmed the deportation plan to CBS News.
Trump’s administration revived deportation talks with several countries, including Libya.
Libya’s Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh publicly rejected the plan on social media.
He said Libya “refuses to be a destination for deportation of migrants under any pretext.”
The BBC requested a comment from the US State Department but received no reply.
President Trump told reporters he was unaware of the Libya deportation plan.
He said questions should be directed to the Department of Homeland Security.
Judge Murphy’s order blocks deportations until migrants receive due process.
His previous ruling mandates written notice in each migrant’s language.
Migrants must also have a chance to challenge their removal in court.
Libya has endured conflict and division since 2011, following Gaddafi’s fall.
The country is currently split between rival governments in the east and west.
The US State Department advises citizens not to travel to Libya.
Concerns include crime, terrorism, and political instability in the region.
Haftar’s son recently met with US officials in Washington, sparking speculation.
However, both US and Libyan sources deny discussing deportations during that visit.
Rwanda confirmed it’s in early talks with the US on possible deportation agreements.
Reports suggest Benin, Angola, Eswatini, Equatorial Guinea, and Moldova are also involved.
The US government has not revealed how many migrants it aims to deport to Libya.
Trump’s administration recently offered $1,000 to migrants who agree to leave voluntarily.
Since January, Trump has escalated mass deportation efforts nationwide.
He also invoked a centuries-old wartime law to justify immigration crackdowns.
The legal battle over deportations to Libya is far from over.
Rights groups say deporting migrants to unstable nations violates international law.
Judge Murphy’s ruling temporarily shields migrants from abrupt removal to conflict zones.
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