U.S. deports record number of Uzbek nationals amid rising immigration crackdowns

During the same period, a total of 271,484 individuals were deported to 192 countries, the highest annual number in the past decade. This represents nearly double the 142,580 deportations recorded during the previous year. The report notes that the highest number of deportations in the past decade was in 2014, with 315,943 removals.

Deportation numbers have surged due to increased flight availability, including weekend flights, and streamlined return processes to countries like Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Additionally, deportations were carried out to countries including Albania, Egypt, Georgia, India, Romania, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and others. Notably, 2024 marked the resumption of deportation flights to China after a six-year hiatus.

Rising deportations of Uzbeks

The number of Uzbeks deported from the U.S. has significantly increased over the years. In 2022 and 2021, only 21 and 55 Uzbek nationals, respectively, were deported. In contrast, 2024 saw a record 572 deportations.

Many Uzbek nationals attempt to reach the U.S. using the Uzbekistan–Turkey (Spain)–Bolivia–Colombia–Mexico–U.S. route. Between 2021 and 2023, an estimated 13,600 citizens of Uzbekistan reportedly tried to enter the U.S. illegally through Mexico. In 2023 alone, over 50,000 individuals from Central Asia crossed the U.S. border unlawfully.

Earlier in February 2024, a group of Uzbek nationals who entered the U.S. via Mexico filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration.

Future prospects under Trump

The increase in deportations could intensify with Donald Trump’s return to office following his victory in the U.S. presidential election. Trump has vowed to fulfill his campaign promises of mass deportations, citing what he called President Joe Biden’s "excessively lenient" immigration policies. Trump has suggested using military force to implement these deportations, emphasizing stricter immigration enforcement as a cornerstone of his administration.