'We warned of the consequences' – Foreign Ministry on deportation of Kazakhs from US

Tengrinews.kz – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alibek Bakayev commented on the information about the deportation of Kazakhs from the United States.
According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as of November 24, 2024, there are 369 Kazakhs on the deportation list. In the Senate corridors, journalists asked Deputy Minister Alibek Bakayev about the situation regarding their return to their homeland.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned Kazakh citizens who are illegally staying in the U.S. that they can declare their illegal status and leave the country freely. There will be consequences, we have warned," said Bakayev.

The deputy minister also explained what restrictions could be imposed on Kazakhs in the event of forced deportation.

"The entry into the United States will be closed. I don't know what other measures will be taken, this is U.S. policy, so voluntary departure, in my opinion, has always existed and remains an option. This opportunity is available for the citizens of Kazakhstan. Those who do not take advantage of this departure may certainly be subject to (forced deportation)," he explained.

At the same time, as reported by the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aybek Smadiyarov, the ICE data on the deportation of 369 Kazakhstanis has nothing to do with the new U.S. immigration policy.

"Upon checking this information, it turns out that Fox News published this news on December 11, 2024. In general, deportation is the forced removal of an undesirable person from one state. Deportations are routine events that occur every day in every country. Therefore, the authorities are not obliged to notify the embassy or consulate about such cases if the individuals being deported entered the country illegally," Smadiyarov explained.

Let us remind you: the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the USA made a statement regarding the tightening of the United States' immigration policy, aimed at strengthening border security and reducing illegal immigration. Details about the new measures can be read here.