U.S. Completes Deportation of Eight Individuals to South Sudan After Legal Proceedings

U.S. Completes Deportation of Eight Individuals to South Sudan

Eight individuals deported from the United States in May and held under guard for several weeks at an American military base in Djibouti during ongoing legal proceedings have now arrived in South Sudan. The U.S. State Department currently advises against travel to South Sudan due to concerns about crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict.

The group, consisting of individuals from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Vietnam, and South Sudan, arrived in South Sudan on Friday. This followed a federal judge's decision that allowed the U.S. administration to proceed with their relocation, a case that reached the Supreme Court. Administration officials stated that the individuals had been convicted of violent offenses in the United States.

Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement on Saturday confirming the arrival of the individuals in South Sudan.

Legal Proceedings and Deportation Process

The Supreme Court cleared the way for the transfer on Thursday. The individuals had been placed on a flight in May bound for South Sudan, but the flight was diverted to a base in Djibouti after a federal judge determined that the administration had not complied with an order to allow the individuals to challenge their removal. During their time in Djibouti, the individuals were held in a converted shipping container.

Previously, the Supreme Court's majority had ruled that immigration officials could expedite removals to third countries, and halted an order that had permitted immigrants to challenge removals to countries outside their country of origin where they might face danger.

A series of court hearings on Independence Day resulted in a temporary suspension of the deportations while a judge considered an appeal from the individuals. Ultimately, the judge determined he did not have the authority to prevent the removals and indicated that a Boston judge, whose earlier rulings had paused the deportations, was best positioned to address the request.

By Friday evening, the Boston judge issued a brief ruling stating that the Supreme Court's decision limited his ability to intervene.

Agreements with Other Countries

According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, the individuals had final orders of removal. Authorities have established agreements with other countries to house individuals if immediate return to their country of origin is not possible.