US officials notified some migrants of intentions to deport them to Libya, a nation they do not originate from and that has a record of human rights abuses, according to attorneys speaking on Wednesday. A judge ruled they cannot be deported without the opportunity to contest such a decision legally.

This legal action is happening at the same time as the Trump administration is trying hard to deport many people, including sending migrants to countries where they are not citizens. The most debated example of sending people to a third country has been sending Venezuelans to a well-known prison in El Salvador.

Sending people who are being deported to Libya, a country known for treating migrants badly, would be a big step up in the government's efforts to get other countries to accept people removed from the United States.

A U.S. official disclosed plans on Wednesday to transport migrants to Libya via military aircraft, though specifics regarding the C-17 flight's schedule remained undisclosed. The official's remarks were made under the cloak of anonymity, given the sensitive nature of discussing military operations.

According to immigration lawyers, some clients, notably those from Vietnam, Laos, and the Philippines, reported being informed by immigration enforcement officials that they faced deportation to Libya, while others were allegedly told they would be sent to Saudi Arabia.

Immigration officers in southern Texas reportedly brought six detained people into a room early Tuesday. They told them to sign a paper saying they agreed to be sent back to Libya. This information comes from immigration lawyers who represent people from Vietnam. The lawyers said they heard this from the families of the people in detention, according to a court document.

The lawyers wrote that when everyone said no, they were put in separate rooms and had their hands tied (like being alone) so they would sign it.

In another case, a lawyer for a man from the Philippines wrote to ICE in San Antonio. He said his client found out he would be sent to Libya. The lawyer wrote that his client is very afraid of being sent to Libya and must have an interview before this happens.

The judge asserted that migrants should be afforded the opportunity to challenge deportation orders.

On Wednesday, lawyers asked U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy in Massachusetts to get involved. Judge Murphy is already handling a case against the Trump administration about sending people back to countries where they are not citizens.

In March, he decided that even if people have used up all their legal options, they must have a real chance to show that being sent back to their home country would put them in danger before they can be deported.

On Wednesday, he stated that any planned removals to Libya would clearly go against this Court's order. He also told the government to provide details about the claims.

Besides the Venezuelans dispatched to El Salvador, the government has repatriated individuals to Panama and Costa Rica who were not nationals of those territories.

Deporting individuals to countries unfamiliar to them has provoked numerous concerns regarding legal procedures and, specifically for El Salvador, the potential for additional mistreatment.

Beyond those three Central American countries, the Trump administration indicated it is considering other third nations for deportations, offering minimal comment when questioned on Wednesday about whether Libya was among them.

President Donald Trump referred inquiries to the Department of Homeland Security; at a press conference in Illinois, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated she was unable to validate media claims regarding intentions to transport individuals to Libya.

The Tripoli government, led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, stated on Wednesday that there was "no agreement or collaboration" with the United States to accept migrants, although it suggested that "some independent entities" might have consented to their reception.

This seems to pertain to its competing administration in eastern Libya, which is under the control of influential military commander Khalifa Hifter. Libya has been divided for several years between competing administrations in the east and west, each supported by armed factions and foreign powers.

The Libya National Army, under Hifter's command and governing eastern and southern regions, also issued a declaration, refuting any arrangement or accord regarding the acceptance of migrants from the U.S.

"There will be no welcoming or hosting of them (the migrants) on the territories under the control of the Libyan Armed Forces, regardless of the underlying reasons or justifications," it stated.

There is a lot of proof about bad treatment of migrants held in Libya. UN investigators said they had proof of possible crimes against humanity, such as murder, torture, forced labor, killings without trial, and rape.

Migrants recounted to The Associated Press recurring instances of beatings and torture alongside demands for ransoms from their families. Their physical state revealed evidence of both past and recent injuries, including signs of gunshot and knife wounds on their backs, legs, arms, and faces.