U.S. authorities have organized another charter flight carrying Uzbek nationals who were residing in the United States illegally. The aircraft, with 44 passengers on board, landed in Tashkent on the evening of January 21, according to Akhror Burkhanov, spokesperson for Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The official emphasized that the flight was arranged in cooperation with relevant U.S. government agencies and ensured the safe and timely return of Uzbek citizens to their home country. He described the operation as yet another important example of partnership between the two states.
As reported by Gazeta.uz, the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent said that the return of deported citizens underscores the United States’ firm commitment to curbing illegal immigration and strengthening border security. American diplomats, in turn, expressed appreciation to their Uzbek counterparts for supporting this priority.
The deportation flight was operated by the U.S. charter airline Omni Air International. The aircraft remained en route for more than 24 hours, making three stopovers along the way, including in Romania and Armenia.
It remains unclear which country covered the cost of the flight.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly spoken about tightening migration policy. Almost immediately after his inauguration on January 20, 2025, the United States began deporting undocumented migrants.
In May of that year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security thanked Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for organizing and financing a flight that returned more than one hundred citizens of Central Asian countries to their home states.
At the time, it was specified that the passengers included nationals of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. All of them had been staying in the United States illegally and were placed on the list of foreign nationals subject to deportation.
As of January 21, 2026, the United States has suspended the issuance of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, as well as Russia and Iran. Representatives of the U.S. State Department said visa processing would remain halted until American officials review immigration procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who may rely on social security and government benefits.
