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Deportation of over 3,000 Lankans from the US likely to be expedited
View(s):The deportation of over 3,000 Lankan nationals with final orders for removal from the US is likely to be expedited under President Donald Trump’s mass deportation programme for illegal immigrants.
According to statistics of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), there are 3,065 Lankans on the ICE’s non-detained docket with final orders of removal.
However, all those on this list may not be deported to Sri Lanka even though they are under final removal orders, if they have sought asylum in the USA, are seeking protection under the Convention Against Torture and several other grounds.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency headquarters in Washington, DC. (AFP)
Between 2021 and 2024, 286 Lankans had been returned to Sri Lanka by the US authorities while more than 800 were detained in relation to various illegal activities.
As of November 24, 2024, there are 1,445,549 non-citizens, including the Lankans, on ICE’s non-detained docket with final orders of removal.
A government official familiar with the deportation procedure said that if those awaiting deportation are proven to be Lankan citizens after verification of the necessary documentation and interviews, the government is bound to facilitate their arrival in the country.
“Our overseas missions facilitate the process if such assistance is sought by the country that wants to repatriate Sri Lankan nationals who are illegal immigrants while there are some who return on their own. At times our government has to pay for their airfare while the deporting country also can do so if they so choose,” the official said.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) also facilitates such deportations, the official said.
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