The United States has deported eight foreign nationals to South Sudan, including individuals from five other countries, following a prolonged legal standoff that temporarily diverted their flight to Djibouti. The men had been convicted of serious crimes—ranging from murder to sexual assault and robbery—and had either completed or were nearing the end of their prison sentences. Only one of the eight individuals is a South Sudanese national. The others hail from Myanmar, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and Mexico. According to US immigration authorities, their respective home countries refused to accept them, prompting the Trump administration to deport them to a third country—a controversial move that has faced legal and diplomatic challenges.
The men were initially flown out of the US in May, but a Massachusetts district court judge, Brian Murphy, halted the deportation, arguing that deportees must be granted a due process hearing and the opportunity to consult with an asylum officer. However, on July 4, the US Supreme Court overturned Murphy’s ruling, allowing the deportation to proceed. A photo shared by the US Department of Homeland Security showed the men on the aircraft in shackles, raising human rights concerns. Upon arrival in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, the group was held at a civilian facility under police and national security supervision. Local civil society leader Edmund Yakani, who was briefly allowed to see the men, reported that they were in good condition and not restrained. Their legal status in South Sudan remains unclear.
The deportation is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to expand removals to third-party countries. In addition to South Sudan, deportees have been sent to El Salvador and Costa Rica, with other nations including Rwanda, Benin, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, and Moldova reportedly being considered. Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked all US visas for South Sudanese citizens in retaliation for Juba’s past refusal to repatriate deportees. Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin described the recent deportation as a legal victory over “activist judges.”
South Sudan, which remains volatile and at risk of renewed civil war, is considered a high-risk destination by the US State Department, which advises against travel due to widespread crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict.
