Judge orders Trump administration to maintain ‘custody and control’ of any migrants deported to South Sudan
A federal judge is currently investigating whether the Trump administration deported migrants to South Sudan in violation of an earlier order that prohibited deportations to countries other than the migrants’ own without giving them a fair chance to contest their removal.
The judge, Brian Murphy, issued a directive late Tuesday instructing the government to keep custody of anyone deported to South Sudan under a lawsuit challenging the administration’s practice of deporting migrants to third countries. This directive aims to ensure that these individuals can be returned if the court deems the deportations unlawful.
Attorneys representing the National Immigration Litigation Alliance and other groups raised concerns that at least 12 migrants had been deported to South Sudan. They specifically mentioned two individuals, one from Myanmar and the other from Vietnam, who were reportedly removed from the Port Isabel Detention Center in Texas to South Sudan.
During a virtual hearing, a Justice Department lawyer mentioned that one individual had been deported to Myanmar, but declined to disclose the whereabouts of the other individual, citing classified information. Judge Murphy warned that officials involved in deportations that violated his order could face criminal contempt proceedings.
The judge’s order also requires the government to identify the affected deportees, provide details about their removal, and explain the opportunity each individual had to raise concerns about their safety. South Sudan is currently designated as a high-risk destination by the U.S. State Department due to crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict.
Another hearing in the case is scheduled for the following day to further address the situation. Last month, Judge Murphy issued an injunction requiring the administration to notify individuals before deporting them to a third country and to allow them a chance to contest the decision based on safety concerns.
In a related development, one of the attorneys disclosed that the Trump administration had previously attempted to deport one of the individuals to Libya, prompting legal intervention to prevent the deportation. The judge had ruled that such an action would clearly violate his order.
As this situation unfolds, it underscores the importance of upholding due process and ensuring that migrants are treated fairly and in accordance with the law. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the handling of future deportations and the protection of migrants’ rights.
