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Immigration lawyers rush to prevent imminent deportations to Libya, Saudi Arabia

Published

13 hours ago

May 7, 2025

westvirginiawatch.com – Ariana Figueroa – 2025-05-07 17:56:00

by Ariana Figueroa, West Virginia Watch
May 7, 2025

WASHINGTON — Immigration attorneys are asking a Massachusetts federal judge for an emergency temporary restraining order to stop the Trump administration from removing their clients to Libya and Saudi Arabia as soon as Wednesday, in a major new development in President Donald Trump’s drive for mass deportations.

“Multiple credible sources report that flights are preparing to immediately depart the United States carrying class members for removal to Libya,” according to the new filings, referring to a group of migrants.

Sending migrants to the North African nation is striking, as it is the site of an ongoing conflict and the State Department has a travel advisory against traveling to Libya due to “crime, terrorism, unexploded land mines, civil unrest, kidnapping and armed conflict.”

The class members the attorneys are concerned about include nationals from Laos, the Philippines and Vietnam. As the Trump administration seeks to carry out mass deportations, it’s sought partnerships with countries to take migrants, such as sending them to CECOT, a notorious prison in El Salvador.

The practice has spawned numerous ongoing lawsuits over use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 and allegations the administration is ignoring due process for deportees.

In a complication, Libya’s prime minister in Tripoli, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, wrote on social media that his country would not accept migrants deported by the Trump administration.

“We refuse to be a destination for the deportation of migrants under any pretext, and any understandings made by illegal parties that do not represent the Libyan state, and do not bind us politically or morally, as human dignity and national sovereignty are not a negotiable card,” he wrote.

Injunction bars removals

Attorneys say such removals would violate U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy’s preliminary injunction that bars removals of migrants to a third country without adequate notice.

“Class members were being scheduled for removal despite not receiving the required notice and opportunity to apply for (United Nations Convention Against Torture) protection,” according to the filing. “This motion follows class counsel receiving multiple reports that class members and their immigration counsel have not received the required protections provided by this Court’s Preliminary Injunction.”

The attorneys are also asking that any class members removed to Libya be returned to U.S. soil.

Flights to Saudi Arabia

There are also concerns that those in the group could be removed to Saudi Arabia.

“Class Counsel has also received a report that Defendants and those working with them may be planning flights to Saudi Arabia. At least one detainee—a citizen of Laos—reported that he had been verbally informed he was to be removed imminently to Saudi Arabia on a military flight,” according to the brief.

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to States Newsroom’s request for comment.

In April, Murphy certified the class to include all immigrants with final orders of removal who were facing deportations to a country that was not their home country.

Murphy, who was appointed by former president Joe Biden, issued a nationwide injunction to bar that group’s removal to a third country without first being provided written notice.

He also ruled that those who are being removed to such a country must “be given an opportunity to explain why such a deportation will likely result in their persecution, torture, and/or death.”

The suit was brought by the National Immigration Litigation Alliance, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project and Human Rights First.

“Libya has a long record of extreme human rights violations,” according to the court filing. “Any Class Member who is removed to Libya faces a strong likelihood of imprisonment followed by torture and even disappearance or death. Indeed, given Libya’s human rights record, it is inconceivable that Class Members from other countries would ever agree to removal to Libya, but instead would uniformly seek protection from being removed to Libya.”

Torture and abuse among human rights violations

The State Department’s 2023 human rights report on the country found human rights violations experienced by migrants who were either being held by Libya’s government or armed groups.

“The criminal and nonstate armed groups controlling extralegal facilities routinely tortured and abused detainees, subjecting them to arbitrary killings, rape and sexual violence, beatings, electric shocks, burns, forced labor, and deprivation of food and water, according to dozens of testimonies shared with international aid agencies and human rights groups,” according to the report.

The State Department’s 2023 human rights report on Saudi Arabia said it was possible migrants were killed by Saudi Arabia forces.

“There were reports that Saudi security forces along the border with Yemen killed significant numbers of African and Yemeni migrants and asylum seekers using both explosive weapons and by shooting individuals at close range,” according to the report.

Last updated 8:11 p.m., May. 7, 2025

West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Leann Ray for questions: info@westvirginiawatch.com.

The post Immigration lawyers rush to prevent imminent deportations to Libya, Saudi Arabia appeared first on westvirginiawatch.com

Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Left

This article approaches the topic of immigration enforcement under the Trump administration with a critical lens, highlighting human rights concerns and legal challenges related to deportations to dangerous countries like Libya and Saudi Arabia. The focus on potential abuses, advocacy by immigration attorneys, and references to injunctions issued by a Biden-appointed judge suggest a perspective that leans towards advocating for migrant rights and due process. This stance is typically associated with a center-left viewpoint, which emphasizes humanitarian considerations and legal protections for vulnerable populations, while critiquing strict immigration policies. However, the article presents factual information and legal context without overtly partisan language, placing it in a moderate left-leaning position rather than far-left or highly partisan.

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‘We call it betrayal’: Veterans join Dems in D.C. to protest Trump’s sweeping VA job cuts

News from the South - West Virginia News Feed

‘We call it betrayal’: Veterans join Dems in D.C. to protest Trump’s sweeping VA job cuts

Published

1 day ago

May 6, 2025

Staff Editor

westvirginiawatch.com – Ashley Murray – 2025-05-06 20:38:00

by Ashley Murray, West Virginia Watch
May 6, 2025

WASHINGTON — Veterans and Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill Tuesday protested the Trump administration’s planned cuts for the Department of Veterans Affairs that include slashing some 80,000 jobs, which many worry will affect the massive agency’s delivery of medical care and benefits.

The group rallied outside the U.S. Capitol shortly after VA Secretary Doug Collins finished lengthy questioning before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, where he defended the cuts as necessary to improve the department’s efficiency.

Holding signs that read “Veterans Healthcare Not For Sale,” a crowd of former service members joined by senators and representatives decried that argument as “nonsensical,” as Sen. Richard Blumenthal, top Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Committee, put it.

“We’re not going to allow veterans to be betrayed by this administration,” Blumenthal, of Connecticut, said. “I’ve just come from a hearing with the VA secretary, and to say it was a disappointment is a huge understatement. That hearing was a disgrace.”

‘Non-stop smear campaign’

Jose Vasquez, executive director of Common Defense, the advocacy group that organized the press conference, said, “They call this efficiency, but we call it betrayal.”

Vasquez, an Army veteran who recently received care from the VA in New York for a cancerous tumor on his pancreas, said, “Millions of veterans depend on VA every day — survivors of cancer, toxic exposure, traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress.”

He contends the agency’s workers, many of whom are veterans, have been the target of a “non-stop smear campaign.”

“Why? Simple. Because a small group of greedy billionaires would rather get tax cuts than pay for the true cost of war,” Vasquez.

Trump’s temporary DOGE organization, led by top campaign donor Elon Musk, cut roughly 2,400 VA jobs in early March.

Collins, a former Georgia congressman who still serves in the Air Force Reserve, unveiled a plan in early March to return VA staffing to 2019 levels of 398,000, down from the current approximately 470,000 positions.

The lawmaker told senators Tuesday that he’s “conducting a thorough review of the department’s structure and staffing across the enterprise.”

“We’re going to maintain VA’s mission-essential jobs like doctors, nurses and claims processors, while phasing out non-mission-essential roles like interior designers and DEI officers. The savings we achieve will be redirected to veteran health care and benefits,” Collins said.

Collins drew pushback during the hearing, including from Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, who told the secretary “there’s no way that all those 80,000 are in those job fields,” referring to his comment about DEI and interior designers.

“I’m having a problem understanding how the veterans in Michigan are going to get the same or better care, which is what we want,” said Slotkin, who served three tours in Iraq as a CIA analyst.

GOP says VA must change

Many Republicans on the panel maintained the VA, as Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said, “is not working.”

“If we just say everything has to stay the same and you just gotta add more money and more people, then you’re looking at it the wrong way,” Tillis said, adding that he’s “open to any suggestions” and will review the proposal for workforce reductions.

Collins criticized the increase in hiring under former President Joe Biden, who signed into law the PACT Act, the largest expansion of VA benefits in decades.

The law opened care to roughly 1 million veterans who developed certain conditions and cancers following exposure to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange.

Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said Collins was being “battered” about the possible 80,000 cuts. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe there were 52,000 new positions added between 2021 and 2024. … That 52,000, has that saved the day for our veterans?

“I don’t think so,” Collins responded.

But at the rally afterward, Democratic Rep. Chris Deluzio, a former Navy officer who served in Iraq, defended the PACT Act expansion.

“At this moment when so many toxic-exposed veterans of my generation, Agent Orange-exposed veterans from the Vietnam era, are finally getting the benefits they’ve earned because of the PACT Act, we should be investing in the resources for the VA, and Donald Trump and his team are doing the opposite,” said Deluzio, who represents Pennsylvania.

The post ‘We call it betrayal’: Veterans join Dems in D.C. to protest Trump’s sweeping VA job cuts appeared first on westvirginiawatch.com

Political Bias Rating: Center-Left

This content primarily features criticism of the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs, highlighting concerns from Democratic lawmakers and veterans about the impact on healthcare and benefits for veterans. The article presents voices advocating for maintaining or increasing support for the VA, aligning with a politically center-left viewpoint that favors government-funded social services and protections for veterans. While it reports statements from some Republicans, the overall tone emphasizes opposition to the cuts and supports expanded veteran benefits, reflecting a center-left bias.

News from the South - West Virginia News Feed

Suspect in custody after explosive materials found in home

Published

2 days ago

May 6, 2025

Staff Editor

www.youtube.com – WSAZ NewsChannel 3 – 2025-05-06 18:19:24

SUMMARY: New details emerged about illegal explosives found in a Cole Grove, Ohio home. Authorities responded Monday after a call about potential illegal fireworks manufacturing. Hundreds of pounds of finished explosives and materials were discovered, reportedly by the homeowner’s son, who quickly alerted police. The suspect, who had been staying at the residence, is now in custody. ATF agents and the state fire marshal described the substances as extremely volatile and dangerous. No injuries occurred. Officials emphasized the importance of contacting authorities when hazardous materials are found. All explosives were safely removed, and charges will be determined by the Lawrence County prosecutor.

Suspect in custody after explosive materials found in home

For more Local News from WSAZ: https://www.wsaz.com/
For more YouTube Content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrcuU0JXXy8oIBqEB13mrwA

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News from the South - West Virginia News Feed

Prime Minister Carney 'Canada Not for Sale' After Trump Calls for 51st State

Published

2 days ago

May 6, 2025

Staff Editor

www.youtube.com – WCHS Eyewitness News – 2025-05-06 18:07:02

SUMMARY: Prime Minister Carney firmly stated that Canada is not for sale, responding to Trump’s suggestion of Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state. Trump argued that joining the U.S. would bring Canadian citizens massive tax cuts, free military protection, and excellent healthcare benefits. He also mentioned the removal of political boundaries as a positive artistic and practical change. However, Carney emphasized that Canada is a sovereign nation, “not for sale,” and stressed the importance of partnership rather than subjugation. He highlighted Canada’s commitment to security, respect for sovereignty, and strong collaboration within NATO, reaffirming Canada’s independent stance.

WASHINGTON (TNND) — The newly elected prime minister of America’s neighbor to the north arrived at the White House Tuesday with a couple of bones to pick with President Donald Trump.

#PrimeMinister #WhiteHouseVisit #USCanadaRelations #TrumpNews #DiplomaticTensions #PoliticalNews #InternationalPolitics #CanadaUS #WorldLeaders #GlobalPolitics
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