495 Moroccan nationals residing illegally in the US will be sent back to Morocco in the coming hours pursuant to deportation orders issued by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed. The deportation orders for the Moroccan citizens were issued November 24, 2024.
A total of 1,445,549 non-US citizens are currently listed for final removal, according to official ICE data. Repatriation flights are expected to begin this week, and sources assert that all logistical details have been finalized to ensure the smooth execution of the operation.
Since Donald Trump returned to the White House on January 20, his administration has intensified immigration enforcement, including federal raids targeting undocumented individuals, particularly those with criminal records.
Reports from multiple media outlets suggest that hundreds of migrants have already been deported on military flights as part of what President Trump has called “the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history.”
In addition to these expulsions, Trump has suspended the entry of refugees holding approved permits. A U.S. State Department memo also confirmed the cancellation of all scheduled refugee resettlement flights to the US.
The broad sweeps and raids of previously protected areas such as churches have been called “unconstitutional” and have already precipitated lawsuits by religious entities, such as the Quakers, and civil rights organizations.
These measures come in contrast to the recent rise in visas granted to Moroccan nationals. According to a US State Department report, 4,065 visas were issued to Moroccans in 2023, including 2,554 under the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program which facilitates immigration from countries with historically low migration rates to the U.S.