NGOs accuse Poland of facilitating American deportations to war-torn Ukraine

Human rights organizations Amnesty International and Human Rights First called on Poland Wednesday to cease cooperating with US deportation flights transferring Ukrainian nationals to their country of origin via Poland. According to these NGOs, this practice could constitute a violation of international law.

In a joint statement, the two organizations assert that the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency organized several deportation operations transiting through Poland between November 2025 and April 2026. More than fifty Ukrainians were thus allegedly sent back to Ukraine despite the ongoing war.

Human rights groups are condemning the forced return of people to a territory still exposed to Russian bombing and missile strikes. They argue that these expulsions directly endanger the lives of those affected.

Uzra Zeya strongly criticized this policy, stating that "the forced transfer of Ukrainians to an active war zone" was shocking and contrary to international law. She also called on Poland to refuse to participate in the transfers decided by the president's administration. Donald Trump.

According to Uzra Zeya, Poland has played a major role in hosting Ukrainian refugees since the beginning of the Russian invasion. NGOs therefore believe that Warsaw should maintain this humanitarian approach rather than facilitating deportations to a country still embroiled in conflict.

For its part, the Polish government asserted that these expulsions were an "internal matter" between the United States and Ukraine. This response, however, risks intensifying international criticism, as migration and humanitarian issues remain particularly sensitive in the context of the war in Ukraine.