The United States has deported 131 undocumented Central Asian migrants to Uzbekistan, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
In a press release on Wednesday, the DHS stated that Uzbekistan’s government cooperated with the U.S. in the deportation of over 100 immigrants from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. The Uzbek government also fully funded the deportation of its own nationals.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s leadership, saying, “We commend President Mirziyoyev for sending a flight to return 131 illegal aliens to their home country.”
She added that the U.S. looks forward to further collaboration with Uzbekistan to enhance security and uphold the rule of law.
The DHS said the partnership with Uzbekistan marked the latest in a long line of successful deals with foreign partners negotiated by President Trump and his administration.
“He put the American people first and successfully convinced Colombia to begin accepting migrants removed from the United States, developed a strong working partnership with El Salvador to lock up criminal illegal aliens and gang members, and turned Mexico into a willing ally in the fight against drug cartels, leading to the arrest of over 6,000 drug traffickers – the highest number of arrests in Mexico’s history,” read the statement issued by the DHS.
66,463 ‘Illegal Aliens’ Arrested
Under President Trump’s second term, the U.S. has intensified efforts to tighten immigration control, including deporting hundreds of migrants to a prison in El Salvador.
On Wednesday, Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee advanced a bill supporting Trump’s immigration policies, which include increasing fees for asylum seekers and boosting resources for detaining and deporting a record number of migrants.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday said during the first 100 days of US President Donald Trump’s second term, 66,463 illegal aliens have been removed.
ICE said 65,682 aliens were also removed from the country.
ICE acting Director Todd M. Lyons said, “The brave men and women of ICE protect our families, friends and neighbours by removing public safety and national security threats from our communities.”
“During President Trump’s first 100 days, ICE alone has arrested over 65,000 illegal aliens — including 2,288 gang members from Tren de Aragua, MS-13, 18th Street and other gangs. Additionally, 1,329 were accused or convicted of sex offenses, and 498 were accused or convicted of murder,” Lyons said.
(With inputs from IBNS)
