The United States has begun deporting migrants who entered the country illegally, with over 1.4 million individuals scheduled for removal under the Trump administration’s new policy.
Among them, 3,065 Sri Lankans are set to be deported, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Ahead of the elections, President Donald Trump had pledged to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. His administration continues to push for the removal of illegal immigrants, citing national security, economic strain, and public safety concerns. Trump has stressed the importance of enforcing immigration laws and reducing the burden undocumented migrants place on U.S. resources.
To advance this agenda, the administration has increasingly involved the military. Troops have been deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border, military aircraft are being used for deportations, and military bases have been repurposed to house detained migrants. In a controversial move, some undocumented immigrants are being transported to a military detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that deportations had begun using U.S. military aircraft. The first flight, a C-17 carrying 205 Indian nationals, departed from San Antonio, Texas, with all passengers verified by the Indian government.
The U.S. government has urged foreign nations to cooperate by confirming the citizenship of suspected nationals, issuing travel documents, and accepting returnees on scheduled flights. Countries that refuse to comply risk being classified as “uncooperative” or “at risk of non-compliance” by ICE. Currently, 15 countries, including Cuba, Iran, China, and Russia, are considered uncooperative, while 11 others, including Iraq, Jamaica, and Vietnam, are at risk of non-compliance.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry has stated that it is awaiting official communication from the U.S. regarding the planned deportations, including the status of Sri Lankan nationals on the removal list.
