US Deportations to South Sudan: A Look Back at a Controversial Trump-Era Policy

In a controversial move during the Trump administration, the United States deported eight individuals to South Sudan following a protracted legal battle. This action, which saw the men initially diverted to Djibouti for several weeks, marked a significant moment in the administration’s efforts to expand deportations to third countries.

Despite only one of the eight being a South Sudanese national – with the others hailing from Myanmar, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and Mexico – US officials stated that most of their home countries had refused to accept them. The deported individuals had been convicted of various crimes, including murder, sexual assault, and robbery, and had either completed or were nearing the end of their prison sentences.

The deportations proceeded after the Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration, overturning a lower court ruling that had required due process hearings for migrants being deported to third countries. A photo provided by the Department of Homeland Security at the time showed the men shackled on the plane.

Upon arrival in South Sudan, their immediate fate remained unclear, though a local civil society leader reported seeing them in good condition under the watch of local police and national security services in Juba. This event unfolded against the backdrop of South Sudan’s ongoing instability, with the US State Department warning against travel due to crime and conflict.

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