UN Experts Alarmed by Arrests and Deportations of Refugees in Egypt

The warning comes as Egypt hosts one of the region’s largest refugee populations, including a rapidly growing number of people fleeing the conflict in neighbouring Sudan.

United Nations human rights experts have raised alarm over an intensifying campaign of deportations, arbitrary arrests and rights violations targeting refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in Egypt, warning that the measures are placing vulnerable populations at heightened risk of exploitation and trafficking.

The warning comes as Egypt hosts one of the region’s largest refugee populations, including a rapidly growing number of people fleeing the conflict in neighbouring Sudan.

According to official figures, around 1.5 million Sudanese nationals had fled to Egypt as of 29 January 2026. By December 2025, 1,098,311 refugees and asylum seekers were registered with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), including 834,201 Sudanese and 117,364 Syrians, most of whom are women and children.

“We remain deeply concerned about the situation of refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt,” the experts said. “Practices of arbitrary arrest and deportations continue, with refugee communities being targeted in their homes, workplaces and even in refugee-led service centres.”

Concerns Over Egypt’s New Asylum Law

The experts noted that Egypt’s new asylum law, adopted on 16 December 2024, immediately raised concerns among international human rights observers.

Several provisions in the legislation risk undermining the protections traditionally afforded to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, the experts said.

Those concerns intensified in October 2025, when reports emerged of a surge in arrests and deportations—particularly targeting Sudanese nationals.

In many cases, individuals were detained solely for alleged violations related to residence permits.

UN experts warned that deportations have reportedly taken place without individualised assessments to determine whether those being returned could face persecution, conflict or other dangers in their home countries.

Syrian Families Also Affected

Recent reports indicate that Syrian refugees have also increasingly been affected by detention and deportation measures.

Entire families have reportedly been arrested for lacking valid residence permits, sometimes despite being registered with UNHCR or holding documentation showing that their permits were being renewed.

Human rights experts warn that these practices create a climate of fear within refugee communities.

“This climate of fear exposes refugees, asylum seekers and migrants to extreme precarity,” the experts said.

Rising Risk of Exploitation and Trafficking

The experts stressed that restrictive policies and economic hardship are pushing many refugees into vulnerable situations.

Limited access to stable employment and legal protections has left many migrants at increased risk of exploitation and human trafficking.

Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation, while others face risks of forced labour and domestic servitude.

Additional protection concerns exist for survivors of gender-based violence and LGBT individuals, who may face discrimination or persecution if deported.

Risk of Forced Return

The experts also expressed serious concern about the possibility of refoulement, the unlawful return of individuals to places where they may face threats to their life, freedom or safety.

They warned that both documented and undocumented refugees fleeing conflict, persecution or humanitarian crises could be affected by deportation measures.

“We remind Egypt that any return or deportation order must be based on an individual assessment of protection needs and human rights obligations,” the experts said.

They stressed that deportation procedures must fully respect international legal principles including:

• Non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to danger

• The best interests of the child

• Non-discrimination

• The right to family life

Ongoing Engagement With Egyptian Authorities

The UN experts confirmed that they are currently in contact with the Government of Egypt to address the concerns and encourage compliance with international human rights standards.

They urged authorities to ensure that refugee protection mechanisms remain fully operational and that migrants and asylum seekers are treated with dignity and respect.