Uzbekistan repatriates 131 migrants in landmark US deal

File Source: US Embassy in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has agreed to repatriate 131 Central Asian nationals at its own expense aboard a U.S. deportation flight, marking what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has called a “model framework” for international cooperation on immigration enforcement.

The chartered plane, which departed the U.S. Wednesday morning, carried nationals from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. The agreement, secured after months of behind-the-scenes diplomacy, is the first of its kind since former President Donald Trump returned to office and is being touted by administration officials as a blueprint for future repatriation deals.

The flight comes amid renewed efforts by the Trump administration to pressure foreign governments to accept their nationals, particularly those residing unlawfully in the U.S. “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. “We look forward to continuing to work together with Uzbekistan on efforts to enhance our mutual security and uphold the rule of law.”

According to DHS, the initiative “underscores the deep security cooperation between our nations and sets a standard for U.S. alliances.”

Uzbekistan, a key U.S. security partner in Central Asia and a strategic neighbor to Iran, China, and Afghanistan, took the lead in organizing and financing the deportation — a step that reflects strengthening bilateral ties under President Mirziyoyev.

The move follows a similar push with El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele agreed not only to receive Salvadoran nationals but also migrants from Venezuela and potentially other countries unwilling to accept their own deportees. Many of those individuals are now detained in El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison. A standoff with Colombia also recently ended in a successful deal after initial resistance to accepting deported nationals aboard U.S. military aircraft.

Immigration enforcement efforts have visibly intensified in recent months. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reports over 66,000 arrests and nearly 66,000 removals so far under the renewed Trump-era immigration agenda. Border encounters have also dropped significantly — averaging 11,363 per day in February and March, compared to nearly 160,000 daily under the previous administration.

The White House is likely to leverage the Uzbekistan agreement in its broader messaging on immigration reform and international compliance, as it seeks to build similar pacts across high-migration regions.