United States may soon start deporting migrants to Libya as part of its crackdown on immigration, two officials have told CBS News. The officials, who requested anonymity, said the U.S. military could fly migrants to the North African country as early as this week.

The move is likely to spark controversy – Libya has been mired in conflict for more than a decade – and the U.S. State Department advises Americans not to travel there due to factors like crime, terrorism and civil unrest.

Libya is thought to be one of several countries asked to accept migrant deportations by Donald Trump’s administration. This week, Rwanda confirmed it was in the “early stage” of talks with the U.S., while Benin, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini and Moldova have all been named in media reports.

But the American nation has reiterated the need to employ data-driven methodologies to promote peace and security internationally, urging the United Nations not to relent on its commitment to this core purpose.
 
Minister Counselor for UN Management and Reform, U.S. Mission to the United Nations, Jake Sherman, gave the reassurance during his remarks yesterday at the opening of the Second Resumed Part of the Fifth Committee’s 79th Session in Washington DC.
 
He said UN peacekeeping requires a streamlined bureaucracy that fosters innovation, and responsibly allocates scarce resources, urging the international community to also prioritise its smooth operations.
 
His words: “We will continue to press for the use of data-driven methodologies to justify resource requests, including for air operations, the largest operational resource.
 
“We will also work to ensure there is increased oversight and accountability for high-risk, high-cost activities, and proper accounting and reporting of actual expenditure and resources needs.
 
“We will scrutinise staffing structures and ensure mission support components are scaled appropriately.”

In a time of increasingly scarce resources, the need for close scrutiny is increasingly important.” Sherman, who noted that “the largest and most visible representation of the United Nations is its blue helmets,” lauded the organisation for the invaluable roles played to promote peace and security.
 
“Thousands of men and women risk their lives to promote peace and security, and we owe a special debt to those who have given their lives in the cause of peace.
 
“But gratitude alone isn’t enough. They also deserve the commitment of this institution, an institution that must return to its principal purpose of maintaining international peace and security. That is where our committee can play a pivotal role,” he added.
 
To further ensure efficiency, the minister said: “We will review the proposed peacekeeping budget of $5.5 billion. While this is two per cent less than the approved 2024-25 budget, it is a $100 million increase in active missions following the closure of the mission in Mali.
 
“Unfortunately, only once since 2016 have we agreed on a cross-cutting policy resolution which provides member-state instruction and direction to the Secretary-General.”
 
The UN scribe, however, assured that the American government would work with the committee to address long-standing deficiencies, including shortfalls in accountability, like the continued inexcusable problem of sexual exploitation and abuse.
 
“We look forward to discussing the Secretary-General’s proposal to rationalise peacekeeping support functions in headquarters. What is true for peacekeeping is true for the UN as a whole. 
 
“In the spirit of UN80, member-states must focus our negotiations to find efficiencies, eliminate redundancy, reduce staff costs, and focus on impact to better serve the core purposes for which the UN was founded,” he added.