The US has deported eight individuals to South Sudan after a contentious legal battle that delayed their removal for weeks. These men, who are convicted of serious crimes such as murder, sexual assault, and robbery, were initially meant to be deported to their home countries. However, most nations, including Myanmar, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and Mexico, refused to accept them, ultimately leading their deportation to South Sudan.
Visual documentation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) showed the men shackled and guarded during their transport. The US officials did not clarify whether they would face detention upon arrival or what their future holds in South Sudan, a country mired in instability and conflict. The US State Department has issued travel warnings due to ongoing violence, including risks of kidnapping and armed conflict.
The men were initially set to be transported out of the US in May. However, their deportation was halted when a federal judge, Brian Murphy, ruled in favor of providing them with notice and the option to speak with an asylum officer before deportation. This judgment was later overturned by the Supreme Court, which ruled that the deportation could proceed without such due process hearings.
Despite efforts from lawyers to stop the removals, the Supreme Court's decision left them without legal recourse. Tricia McLaughlin from DHS praised the deportation as a triumph over what she referred to as "activist judges." Earlier in the year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had also revoked visas for South Sudanese passport holders due to the country's prior refusal to accept deported nationals.
