US deports group of Georgians under Trump’s immigration policy

Georgia’s Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs has announced that a group of Georgian citizens was deported from the US and landed in Tbilisi amid a broader immigration crackdown under the administration of President Donald Trump.

The individuals arrived on a chartered flight at Tbilisi International Airport, Caliber.Az reports per Georgian media.

While the Georgian ministry did not specify the exact number of deportees, eyewitness footage from the airport suggests that at least 20 people were on board. Deputy Health Minister Giorgi Tsagareishvili met the returnees upon arrival. According to the ministry, he briefed them on available government support programmes, including services aimed at assisting them reintegrate into Georgian society.

As of November 2024, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had 833 Georgian nationals listed for deportation, reflecting a growing trend in removals of foreign nationals residing illegally in the US. One of his administration’s more controversial initiatives includes a “self-deportation” programme, under which undocumented individuals are offered $1,000 to voluntarily leave the country.

By Naila Huseynova