Expert: possible US deportations to South Sudan could set “dangerous precedent”
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U.S. under fire for reportedly deporting immigrants to war-torn South Sudan, raising legal and humanitarian concerns.
A leading security analyst has warned that reported deportations of immigrants from the United States to South Sudan could set a “dangerous precedent” and may breach international humanitarian law.
Hassan Khannenje, Director at the HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies, criticized the alleged move by the Trump administration, saying it could endanger lives and undermine global legal norms. His remarks follow growing scrutiny over a deportation flight reportedly linked to South Sudan, carrying immigrants from countries including Vietnam and Cuba.
“Sending people to South Sudan, a country in turmoil and on the brink of renewed civil war, is not only hypocritical but extremely dangerous,” said Khannenje, speaking from Nairobi. “This could be a violation of humanitarian law and a troubling signal for how deportations are handled internationally.”
The U.S. government confirmed that eight immigrants with convictions for violent crimes had been expelled but did not clarify where they were sent. If they were deported to South Sudan, it would mean migrants with no ties to the country are being sent thousands of miles away to an unstable and unfamiliar environment.
U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy, in an emergency hearing held in Boston, stated that the deportation flight violated a court order. He said the eight deportees were not given a fair opportunity to challenge the deportation, especially on the grounds that it might put their lives at risk.
This marks a stark shift in U.S. policy toward South Sudan. Once a key supporter of the country’s independence movement, the U.S. has significantly reduced aid to South Sudan, even as the nation struggles with violence and humanitarian crises affecting its population of over 11 million.
Analysts warn that pushing South Sudan to accept foreign deportees—many of whom have no connection to the country—may not only destabilize the fragile nation further but also damage the United States’ credibility on human rights.
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