A significant win for the Trump administration.
On Wednesday, a plane full of illegal migrants was flown to the Central Asian country of Uzbekistan in a landmark move.
Over 100 unlawful immigrants are flying back to Uzbekistan on Wednesday as part of the agreement between the two governments. In the first such move by a foreign government since Trump took office, Uzbekistan has agreed to pay for the chartered deportation flights.
Fox News reports that the flight, which took off this morning, had 131 migrants on board.
People from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan were on board the flight, and Kyrsgystan and Kazahkstan nationals are expected to continue to their home countries from Uzbekistan.
The deal, which the Trump administration says is a model framework for how it wants other nations to engage with the U.S. on immigration, is the result of months of diplomatic engagement between State Department officials, DHS officials, the White House and the National Security Council with their counterparts from Uzbekistan.
The deal “underscores the deep security cooperation between our nations and sets a standard for U.S. alliances,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement.
“We commend Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for his leadership in sending a flight to return 131 illegal aliens back to their home country,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to work together with Uzbekistan on efforts to enhance our mutual security and uphold the rule of law.”
The arrangement follows a deal brokered by the Trump administration after a showdown with Colombia, by which the South American country agreed to accept its nationals, including those on military planes, after President Gustavo Petro originally rejected two Colombia-bound U.S. military aircraft carrying unlawful migrants. (RELATED: Colombian President Backpedals On Deportation Flights Refusal)
It also follows an agreement with El Salvador, by which President Nayib Bukele agreed to receive not only his own nationals but those from Venezuela and potentially other countries that will not take their own citizens back from the U.S. (RELATED: El Salvador Offers To Accept Illegal Alien Deportees, US Prisoners For A Fee)
Bukele, who has made combating gang violence a centerpiece of his administration, has offered to detain deported U.S. criminals at the country’s new Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT). Completed in January 2023, the maximum security facility has a capacity of up to 40,000 inmates and is one of the largest prisons in the world.
Do you think more countries will follow? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
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