The Trump administration has deported more than 100 illegal immigrants to Uzbekistan, with the Central Asian country picking up the tab for its citizens.

The Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday that the United States and the government of Uzbekistan had partnered to remove 113 citizens of the three countries: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. The Uzbekistan government “fully funded” the return of its citizens, according to DHS, which did not respond to a request for comment on the cost of the flight.

Recommended Stories

• Conservatives launch nonprofit group to amplify 'human impact' of US immigration crisis
• Wisconsin Supreme Court suspends Milwaukee judge arrested by FBI
• Joe Concha revels in fewer border crossings with 'just a new president'

“We commend Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for his leadership in sending a flight to return 131 illegal aliens back to their home country,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to work together with Uzbekistan on efforts to enhance our mutual security and uphold the rule of law.”

Trump officials are said to be in talks with roughly 30 countries around the world about taking back their citizens from the United States, according to a recent report.

Noem took issue during a Cabinet meeting Wednesday with reporting that the Biden administration had deported more illegal immigrants than the current Trump administration.

“One thing I want to point out is fake news has been saying that Biden deported more people than you, it is an absolute lie,” Noem told a reporter while in the White House. “They are letting the Biden administration get away with manipulating and cooking the books.”

Noem referred to how the Biden administration touted a very high number of people removed from the country, which includes immigrants arrested within the U.S. and those encountered at the border.

Due to a massive decline in the number of immigrants arriving at the southern border, removals of immigrants from that location are low, while the Trump administration has focused its immigration enforcement efforts on targeting illegal immigrants within the country and deporting that particular population.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS AIM TO CUT CARTELS’ CASH FLOW BY TARGETING WIRE TRANSFER SERVICES

Noem said on April 24 that “since President Trump has been in office, just a few short weeks, we have arrested and deported over 150,000 individuals.”

However, DHS data published by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement revealed that just 65,000 illegal immigrants have been deported by ICE since Trump took office, putting him on trend to come in below the years during the Obama administration.