20 April 2026

ADVICE ON “VOLUNTARY DEPORTATION”: REQUESTS TO THE EMBASSY TO ISSUE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS FOR ZIMBABWEAN NATIONALS IN I.C.E. CUSTODY

Dear members of the Zimbabwean community in the USA,

The Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe wishes to state the following important points regarding the requests for Temporary Travel Documents (TTDs) for those nationals under the United States of America’s deportation orders:

1. As you might be aware, some Zimbabwean nationals have been detained by the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) during the ongoing deportation exercise for all persons perceived to be undocumented in the United States of America. The exercise is targeting those who lack valid documentation, overstayed their visas, entered the U.S. illegally, and some for criminal offences such as fraud, traffic violations, domestic violence petty thefts, among others.
2. Of late, the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Washington D.C. has been contacted by concerned parents, relatives and next of kin (of some Zimbabwean nationals taken into ICE custody) demanding that the Embassy issue travel documents for their loved ones with “guarantees” that the family would cover the costs of their “voluntary deportation”.
3. It is against this background that the Embassy wishes to advise the Zimbabwean community at large that ICE informed Embassies and Consulates that those nationals awaiting deportation should first seek ICE’s approval for the said “voluntary deportation” before approaching the Embassies for the said travel documents.
4. The Federal Government of the United States of America, through the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, (ICE), is the responsible authority for determining those who qualify for “voluntary deportation” and the nature of their deportation.

The Embassy takes the opportunity to remind nationals to fully adhere to the host Government regulations and laws and to ensure that they regularize their documents to avoid unnecessary inconveniences.

Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe

Washington D.C.

USA