US deports eight men to South Sudan after legal battle
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Deported individuals are seen shackled on a US government plane en route to South Sudan following a Supreme Court ruling.
US Deports Eight Men to South Sudan After Legal Battle
Deportees include nationals from five countries; only one is South Sudanese as Supreme Court backs third-country removals
The United States has deported eight men to South Sudan after a lengthy legal dispute and diversion to Djibouti, marking a controversial milestone in the Trump administration’s expansion of third-country deportations.
The men, convicted of serious crimes such as murder, sexual assault, and robbery, had either completed or were nearing the end of their sentences. Despite only one being a South Sudanese national, the rest — from Myanmar, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and Mexico — were deported to the African country after their home nations refused to accept them.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) image released to US media showed the group on board the plane with their hands and feet shackled.
Supreme Court Clears Path for Removal
The group was initially removed from the US in May, but the deportation was temporarily halted after US District Judge Brian Murphy ruled that individuals being deported to third countries must be granted notice and a hearing with an asylum officer. The plane was diverted to Djibouti, and the men remained in limbo.
Last week, however, the US Supreme Court overturned the ruling, siding with the Trump administration. This cleared the path for the deportations to proceed, a move DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin praised as a “victory over activist judges.”
Deportees Under Watch in Juba
Upon arrival in Juba, South Sudan, the eight men were placed under the supervision of the national police and security services at a civilian facility. Edmund Yakani, director of a local civil society group, said the men appeared to be in good physical condition, were not in handcuffs, but he was not allowed to speak to them. Their legal status in South Sudan remains unclear, and Yakani urged the government to clarify their future.
The US State Department has designated South Sudan as a high-risk country due to crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict.
Broader Deportation Strategy
The deportation is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to remove foreign nationals to third countries when their own governments refuse repatriation. The US has previously deported individuals to El Salvador and Costa Rica, and Rwanda has confirmed talks. Benin, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, and Moldova have also been identified as potential host nations.
Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suspended all visas for South Sudanese passport holders, citing non-cooperation with US deportation efforts.
US deports eight men to South Sudan after legal battle US deports eight men to South Sudan after legal battle US deports eight men to South Sudan after legal battle
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