Deportation - The Times Of Central Asia

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Deportations of Central Asians from the U.S. Increased in 2024

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has released its Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report, detailing the agency’s accomplishments over the past year. The report highlights how ICE’s directorates and program offices met their mission objectives. Established in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, ICE is tasked with protecting the American public, ensuring public safety, and promoting national security. According to the report, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) deported 271,484 non-citizens with final orders of removal to 192 countries. This total includes 88,763 individuals charged with or convicted of criminal offenses, 3,706 known or suspected gang members, 237 known or suspected terrorists, and eight human rights violators. More than 30% of those deported had criminal histories, with an average of 5.63 convictions or charges per individual. ERO also assisted in identifying and arresting individuals wanted in their home countries for serious crimes, including terrorism and torture. The Times of Central Asia examined the report with a focus on Central Asian countries. In 2024, the US deported 572 Uzbek nationals - a dramatic increase compared to 88 in 2013, 21 in 2021, and 55 in 2022. Deportations of Tajik citizens also surged, reaching 77 in 2024 compared to only four annually in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023. Kazakhstan saw the deportation of 23 of its citizens this year, up from 14 in 2023. Deportations to Kyrgyzstan also spiked, with 69 individuals removed in 2024. By comparison, only three Kyrgyz citizens were deported in 2020, eight in 2021, one in 2022, and 14 in 2023. Meanwhile, deportations of Turkmen nationals remained low, but still showed an upward trend. In 2024, five Turkmen citizens were deported, compared to four in 2019, one in 2022, and three in 2023.

Human rights EU Deportation Justice Opposition

Human Rights Activists Urge Belgian Authorities to Halt Deportation of Tajik Citizens with Children

The human rights organization Freedom for Eurasia has called on Belgian authorities to halt the deportation of Sitoramo Ibrohimova and her four children to Tajikistan. Human rights activists argue that the 37-year-old, currently being held in a Belgian migration detention center, risks facing persecution in Tajikistan, where she is accused of ISIS affiliation and participation in the war in Syria. Her name is reportedly included on a list of individuals linked to extremism by the National Bank of Tajikistan. Ibrohimova is married to Murodali Halimov, who was sentenced to 23 years in prison in Tajikistan on terrorism and mercenary charges. Leyla Nazgul Seyitbek, head of Freedom for Eurasia, informed Radio Ozodi that while Belgium has not agreed to extradite Ibrohimova, they have decided on deportation. “She is depressed, and her 12-year-old son has stopped speaking due to stress,” Seyitbek said. In addition to her children, Ibrohimova cares for the two daughters of her sister, Nigora Saidova, who was deported from Poland and sentenced to seven years in Tajikistan for allegedly “supporting terrorism.” According to The Insider, Tajikistan has requested Ibrohimova's extradition, though activists insist the terrorism charges are fabricated. Since 2015, when the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) was banned, many IRPT supporters and other opposition members have fled, seeking asylum in Europe. However, reports from European media, including The Insider and Polityka, indicate that EU authorities frequently deport Tajik refugees without full consideration of their cases, despite concerns over their safety if returned to Tajikistan. The Times of Central Asia is covering the detention of Tajik opposition figure Dilmurod Ergashev, who was deported from Germany. In recent years, several political refugees have faced deportation from the EU and were subsequently sentenced to long prison terms in Tajikistan. Examples include Abdullo Shamsiddin, son of IRPT activist Shamsiddin Saidov, who received a seven-year sentence, and Bilol Kurbonaliev from Group 24, sentenced to ten years. Farrukh Ikromov, deported from Poland, received a 23-year sentence, and Hizbullo Shovalizoda, an IRPT member deported from Austria in 2020, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Tajikistan.

Migrant Rights Deportation Court Cases Opposition Germany Human rights

Germany Deports Tajik Political Activist Dilmurod Ergashev

Germany has decided to deport Dilmurod Ergashev, a political activist and member of the Movement for Reforms and Development of Tajikistan, who had applied for asylum in Germany. This is despite requests from international human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and the Helsinki Committee not to deport Ergashev because of the risk of him being tortured in Tajikistan. Friends of the activist said Ergashev was told to report to the deportation center and prepare to leave. The activist, who has lived in Germany for the past 13 years, was detained in the town of Kleve on October 28 and taken to the administrative court, where his deportation was ordered. According to associates, the court should have considered that another administrative court was still considering Ergashev's application for political asylum. Sharofiddin Gadoev, leader of the Movement for Reforms and Development, confirmed that the deportation process has already begun. Ergashev is likely to be sent back to Tajikistan on November 6. “The decision to deport Ergashev strengthens the authoritarian system in Tajikistan and increases fear among political activists,” Gadoev said. He said there may be an agreement between Germany and Tajikistan to deport activists forcibly. Ergashev's lawyer has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court but is unavailable for comment. Dozens of Tajik citizens have moved to Europe in recent years, many of whom disagree with their country's policies. Germany has previously deported activists such as Abdullo Shamsiddin and Bilol Kurbonaliev, who were sentenced to long prison terms upon their return home. Also extradited from Austria to Tajikistan in 2020 was Hizbullo Shovalizoda, a member of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan. He has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Migration Human rights Justice Deportation Local politics

Turkmenistan Requests Deportation of Fifty Activists and Journalists

The Chronicles of Turkmenistan reports that Turkmenistan has sent a list to several countries comprising 50 people, asking that they not be permitted to enter their territory, or to have them deported to Turkmenistan. The appeal was sent to Belarus, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Iran, Moldova, Georgia, and Armenia. According to the authorities, the index lists civil activists, journalists, independent media, and opposition representatives as threatening state security. Turkmenistan has prioritized the return of nine people from this list. It remains to be seen whether the aforementioned foreign countries will execute the Turkmen authorities wishes. However, Turkmen.news journalist Ruslan Myatiev, who went to Turkey on summer vacation with his family on July 25, was not allowed to enter the country. After several hours of interrogation by the Turkish National Security Service, Myatiyev was deported to Turkmenistan. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that the daughter of a Turkmen activist was not allowed to fly to Turkey. This follows on from an increasing number of cases where Turkmen citizens have been removed from flights abroad without explanation; the same thing is reportedly happening when attempting to cross the border by land.