U.S. Deports 131 Illegal Immigrants to Uzbekistan Under New Agreement

Washington, D.C. — The United States has deported 131 illegal immigrants to Uzbekistan as part of a new agreement between the two countries, officials announced on April 30. This flight marks the first such cooperation since President Donald Trump took office, and it follows months of diplomatic engagements between U.S. and Uzbek officials.

The deportation flight, which took off Wednesday, was funded entirely by the Uzbek government. The group included nationals from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. This agreement is seen as a framework that the Trump administration hopes to replicate with other countries regarding immigration issues.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem praised Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for his leadership in facilitating this flight. “This deal underscores the deep security cooperation between our nations and sets a standard for U.S. alliances,” Noem stated. “We look forward to continuing to work together.”

Uzbekistan, which has a population of over 37 million, is strategically located near Iran, China, and Afghanistan, making it a partner in enhancing U.S. security interests in Central Asia.

The agreement follows a similar arrangement with Colombia, where the South American nation agreed to accept deported citizens after initially rejecting U.S. military flights carrying illegal migrants. An earlier agreement with El Salvador allows the return of not only Salvadoran nationals but also others, including those from Venezuela with suspected gang affiliations.

Despite ongoing deportations, there have been legal challenges against the U.S. government’s actions. A federal judge recently ruled that illegal immigrants held at Guantanamo Bay must be allowed to express safety concerns before being deported, particularly to countries they do not belong to. Democratic lawmakers have also criticized the deportations, citing individual cases where immigrants were wrongfully sent back.

The Department of Homeland Security has reported a drop in border encounters to an average of 11,363 per day in recent months, compared to averages nearing 160,000 during the previous administration.