First Group of Armenians Forcibly Deported From the U.S. Arrives in Armenia

A group of Armenian citizens who were forcibly returned from the United States have arrived in Armenia. The Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed to The Armenian Report: “The individuals who were forcibly returned have been moved to Armenia. At this moment, work is being carried out to determine their legal status and complete documentation.”

When asked how many people were involved and for further details, an official said: “No. At this moment, only this information is available.”

These deportations are part of the process carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE maintains lists of people who have final orders of removal—decisions issued by U.S. immigration judges requiring individuals to leave the United States. ICE is responsible for enforcing these orders, including deportations when possible, often coordinating with the individual’s home country.

According to ICE data, as of November 24, 2024, there were 2,808 Armenian citizens on the non-detained docket with final orders of removal. This list includes individuals who could be deported from the U.S. because they do not have legal permission to remain. In total, ICE had over 1.4 million noncitizens with final orders of removal who were not in detention at that time.

For Armenian citizens, the process ends with arrival in Armenia, where authorities are responsible for verifying legal status and providing necessary documentation for their reintegration. Armenian officials have not disclosed the number of individuals in this first group or their exact arrival dates, only confirming that they are now in the country.

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