Date: July 6, 2025
Washington, D.C. — The United States has deported eight foreign nationals to South Sudan following a tense legal standoff and weeks of detainment in Djibouti, after a Supreme Court decision paved the way for removals to third countries without prior asylum hearings.
The group—comprising one South Sudanese man and others from Myanmar, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and Mexico—had all been convicted of serious crimes in the U.S., including murder, sexual assault, and robbery. While they had either served their sentences or were near completion, their respective home countries refused to accept their return, leading to their deportation to South Sudan under a controversial U.S. policy.
Initially deported in May, the men’s removal was delayed after U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy blocked the deportation, citing the need for due process under immigration law. Judge Murphy had ruled that migrants being sent to third countries must first be notified and allowed access to an asylum officer. The plane was diverted to Djibouti, where the men remained for several weeks.
However, the U.S. Supreme Court later overturned Murphy’s ruling, siding with the Trump administration’s stance on expedited deportations. The Court concluded that lower courts could not mandate such asylum procedures in third-country transfers. As a result, the deportations resumed and were completed on Thursday.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released an image showing the eight men shackled aboard a plane en route to South Sudan. Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, hailed the deportation as a win over "activist judges" blocking enforcement of immigration policy.
Despite only one of the deported men being a South Sudanese national, the U.S. proceeded with the transfer, highlighting ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to strike deportation deals with third-party nations. Rwanda has confirmed discussions, while El Salvador and Costa Rica have previously accepted similar deportees. Media reports have listed Benin, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, and Moldova as possible future partners in such arrangements.
The fate of the men upon arrival in South Sudan remains unclear. The country is mired in political instability and violence, with the U.S. State Department advising against travel due to “crime, kidnapping and armed conflict.”
Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked all visas for South Sudanese passport holders, citing the country’s earlier refusal to cooperate on deportations. The latest move signals a tougher stance by the U.S. on immigration enforcement and international cooperation.
Legal experts and human rights advocates continue to raise concerns about deporting individuals to volatile countries where they may face persecution or harm. However, the administration insists the removals are necessary for national security and public safety.
