US has deported 50 Ukrainians: first group was returned via Shehyni checkpoint
On Tuesday, November 18, 50 citizens returned to Ukraine after being deported from the United States on a special flight. This was reported by State Border Service spokesman Andrii Demchenko in a comment to Suspilne, according to Censor.NET. All of them crossed the border through the Shehyni checkpoint on the border with Poland.
Who returned and how they were greeted at the border
According to Demchenko, the deportees had documents confirming their Ukrainian citizenship or documents for returning to their homeland. Border guards processed their entry in accordance with Ukrainian law.
"Ukraine accepts its citizens in all cases. The circumstances that led to the decision to forcibly deport them are currently being investigated," said the State Border Service spokesperson.
Why the US is deporting Ukrainians
According to the State Border Service, Washington informed Kyiv in advance of its intention to deport Ukrainians in transit through Poland. These are people who do not have US citizenship and have violated US law.
We previously reported that the US is preparing large-scale deportations. Ukraine's ambassador to the US, Olha Stefanishyna, confirmed that:
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Approximately 80 Ukrainians have already received final eviction orders.
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Deportations related to violations of US law.
The Ukrainian side continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding each deportee, she added.
Reaction of human rights defenders
Human rights activists note that international treaties prohibit sending people to countries where they may be persecuted or tortured. They are concerned that the Trump administration is expanding the scope of these principles by attempting to deport people even to Ukraine, which is currently at war.
