Flights with deported Ukrainians from the US: Poland urged to refuse to participate in dangerous returns
The issue of forced return of Ukrainians from abroad during wartime goes beyond the scope of normal migration procedures, as any such decision must take into account the real security situation in the country to which the person is being sent. For Ukrainians who found themselves abroad after the start of a full-scale invasion or who lost their legal status during the war, deportation can mean returning to conditions of constant threat, destroyed infrastructure, limited access to housing, medicine and stable protection.
What human rights activists said
The deportation of people to Ukraine, which lives under constant threat of missile strikes, fighting and the destruction of civilian infrastructure, has been the subject of sharp criticism from international human rights organizations. As writes Reuters, Amnesty International and Human Rights First have drawn attention to cases in which Ukrainians from the United States were returned to Ukraine via Poland, despite the fact that the security situation in the country remains dangerous for the civilian population. Human rights activists believe that such a practice may contradict international law, since people actually find themselves in conditions of active war.
Amnesty International and Human Rights First have called on Poland not to accept flights from the United States carrying deported Ukrainians at its airports. The organizations stressed that Warsaw should refuse any participation in such operations, even if Polish territory is used only as a transit route.
According to human rights activists, in November 2025 and March 2026, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted at least two operations through Poland. More than 50 people were deported to Ukraine during these flights.
Human rights organizations indicate that the forced return of Ukrainians to a country where war is ongoing and missile strikes may occur in different regions poses serious risks to people’s lives and safety. In their assessment, the transfer of people to an active combat zone is a shocking practice that may violate international obligations to protect individuals from being returned to dangerous conditions.
Amnesty International and Human Rights First drew special attention to a flight from Phoenix, Arizona, which landed at the Polish airport “Rzeszów-Jasionka”. Human rights activists consider this case an example of how Polish infrastructure could be used to return Ukrainians to a country where they may be at risk due to war.
What role do they see for Poland in this situation?
The appeal of human rights activists emphasizes that Poland, after the start of the full-scale invasion, accepted a large number of Ukrainians and provided them with shelter. Because of this, according to the organizations, the Polish authorities should be especially attentive to cases where Ukrainians are returned to dangerous conditions through Polish airports.
Human rights activists call on Warsaw not to assist the policy of the US President Donald Trump administration regarding the deportation of Ukrainians. They emphasize that even transit participation can have consequences for people who, after arriving in Poland, are then sent to Ukraine.
Position of the Polish Foreign Ministry
The press secretary of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Karolina Halecka, stated that Warsaw does not have an agreement or arrangement with the United States regarding the deportation of Ukrainians. According to her, this situation concerns relations between Ukraine and the United States, and Poland acted only as a transit point.
The Polish side insists that it was not directly involved in the deportation procedures. At the same time, human rights activists raise a broader question: can a state through whose territory people are transported to a country at war completely dissociate itself from responsibility for the consequences of such transit?
Why this situation is important for Ukrainians abroad
The situation with deportation flights has shown the vulnerability of Ukrainians who are outside the country and may lose legal protection due to decisions by foreign migration authorities. For people who are returned to Ukraine during the war, the consequences of deportation are not limited to a change in the country of residence, as upon arrival they may face risks to their lives, lack of housing, medical problems or lack of support.
Amnesty International and Human Rights First’s appeal to Poland concerns not only individual flights, but the broader issue of the safe return of people to a country where hostilities are ongoing. Human rights activists insist that states should assess not only the legal status of deportees, but also the actual conditions to which they are sent.
