Eight Men Deported from US to South Sudan Amid Controversial Legal Battles

After a lengthy legal struggle, eight men have been deported from the United States to South Sudan, revealing complexities in US immigration policies and the challenges of repatriating individuals to unstable countries.

The United States has recently deported eight individuals to South Sudan, concluding a convoluted legal battle that forced a diversion to Djibouti for several weeks. The men, whose crimes range from murder to sexual assault and robbery, had either served their sentences or were nearing their release. Interestingly, only one deportee is originally from South Sudan, while the others hail from countries including Myanmar, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and Mexico. US officials indicated that many home nations were unwilling to accept their nationals back.

The ongoing deportation strategy under the Trump administration aims to expand expulsions to third countries, with previous actions including sending deportees to El Salvador and Costa Rica. Discussions with Rwanda and the potential of sending individuals to nations like Benin and Angola have also surfaced.

Recent images released by the Department of Homeland Security show the deported men shackled and guarded by US military personnel aboard the aircraft. However, details on what awaits them upon arrival in South Sudan remain unclear. The South Sudanese government has not detained these men, and the nation, grappling with instability and the threat of civil conflict, has been flagged by the US State Department due to risks like crime and kidnapping.

The series of events began in May when a US district judge, Brian Murphy, issued a temporary block against the deportations, stating that migrants should be given notice and the opportunity to speak with an asylum officer before being expelled to third countries. However, a ruling from the Supreme Court last week favored the Trump administration, thus overturning Judge Murphy's decision and allowing the deportations to proceed without the mandated hearings.

In response to the court’s ruling, attorneys sought intervention from a different judge, but he confirmed that only Judge Murphy had the authority over the case, who ultimately stated that he could not prevent the removals due to the Supreme Court's resolution. Tricia McLaughlin from the Department of Homeland Security characterized the South Sudan deportation as a triumph over what she termed "activist judges." Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had officially revoked visas for South Sudanese passport holders, citing the government's previous reluctance to accept deported residents.