New Moves in U.S. Immigration: Deportation Threats to South Sudan

Experts point to fears that the administration's actions may be aimed at deterring potential immigrants by showcasing extreme deportation policies, which include returning individuals to dangerous countries.

The Trump administration is taking bold steps in its immigration enforcement strategy, planning to deport a group of eight migrants to South Sudan, a nation currently facing the threat of civil war. The migrants hail from various countries, including Vietnam, Cuba, and Mexico. They are reportedly being held at a U.S. military facility in Djibouti due to a federal court ruling that prevents their immediate transfer to South Sudan.

While U.S. immigration law does permit the deportation of individuals to third countries under certain conditions, this practice has been uncommon in previous administrations. The current strategy appears more extensive, with potential plans to send larger groups of migrants to perilous locations such as South Sudan, Libya, or even to high-security prisons in El Salvador. This raises significant concerns about the implications for due process rights of those involved.

According to legal experts, the administration's overarching aim may be to instill fear among the immigration community. “The combination of sending individuals to third countries, on a broader scale, and using punitive measures appears to be an unprecedented approach,” noted Sarah R. Sherman-Stokes, a law professor at Boston University. Such tactics may serve not only as a means of enforcement but also a tactic to discourage other would-be immigrants from attempting to seek asylum or refuge in the U.S.