The US has deported eight individuals to South Sudan after a complex legal journey that saw a Supreme Court ruling favoring the administration's stance on deportations.
US Expands Controversial Deportations to South Sudan Amid Legal Struggles
US Expands Controversial Deportations to South Sudan Amid Legal Struggles
Eight men are forcibly deported to South Sudan as the Trump administration navigates legal challenges to expand its deportation policies.
The US has controversially deported eight men to South Sudan following an extended legal battle marked by their temporary relocation to Djibouti. These individuals, convicted of serious crimes such as murder, sexual assault, and robbery, had either completed their prison sentences or were nearing their release. Interestingly, only one of the deported individuals is originally from South Sudan; the others hail from Myanmar, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and Mexico, with U.S. officials indicating that most of their home countries were unwilling to take them back.
While the Trump administration aims to broaden its deportation reach to third countries, including El Salvador and Costa Rica, the recent focus has shifted to South Sudan. Visual evidence from the Department of Homeland Security shows the men on board the plane, shackled by hands and feet, under the supervision of U.S. military personnel. However, uncertainty surrounds their fate upon arrival, as South Sudan is currently characterized by instability and violence, prompting U.S. State Department warnings against travel to the region.
Initially destined for deportation in May, the men’s flight was diverted after US District Judge Brian Murphy issued a ruling blocking the removals. Judge Murphy's decision mandated that migrants being sent to third countries should receive notice and an opportunity to speak with asylum officers. However, the situation changed dramatically when the Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration last week, overturning Murphy’s ruling and reinstating the deportation orders.
After the Supreme Court decision, further attempts by legal representatives to halt the deportations were unsuccessful; Judge Murphy indicated he no longer had the authority to intervene based on the Supreme Court verdict. Department of Homeland Security official Tricia McLaughlin characterized the deportation to South Sudan as a triumph over "activist judges." Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had already revoked visas for South Sudanese passport holders, citing South Sudan's history of refusing to accept deportees.
