Federal Court Mandates Tracking of Immigrants Deported to South Sudan by Trump Administration

Federal Court Mandates Tracking of Immigrants Deported to South Sudan by Trump Administration

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to maintain custody of illegal immigrants deported to South Sudan. This ruling ensures that if the court later deems the removals unlawful, these individuals can be quickly brought back to the United States.

U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy issued this decision on Tuesday night in Massachusetts. The ruling came after attorneys representing immigrants from Myanmar and Vietnam claimed that the Trump administration had illegally deported their clients to third-party countries, violating a court order against such removals.

Judge Emphasizes Custody Requirements

In his ruling, Judge Murphy emphasized that the government must “maintain custody and control of class members currently being removed to South Sudan or to any other third country.” This measure will help ensure the feasibility of their return if the court finds that these deportations were unlawful.

Attorneys representing the impacted immigrants argue that the deportation process contravenes a court order, which stipulates that migrants should receive a “meaningful opportunity” to demonstrate that sending them to a third country would jeopardize their safety.

Emergency Court Order Requested

The attorneys expressed urgency in their request to Judge Murphy, seeking an emergency court order to halt the deportations. Murphy has previously ruled against deporting individuals to Libya without proper notice, asserting that such actions would violate his directives. This principle also applies to those who have exhausted their legal appeals.

Details of the Ruling

As part of the ruling, Murphy instructed U.S. officials to appear in court to provide specific information. This includes identifying the immigrants affected by the deportations, detailing when and how they were notified of their removals, and outlining what opportunities they had to raise concerns regarding their safety.

Additionally, Murphy mandated that the government disclose information about the locations of migrants who have already been deported.

Responses from Government Officials

The Department of Homeland Security has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the recent ruling.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in April that the U.S. would revoke the visas of South Sudanese passport holders. He noted that no new visas would be issued, effective immediately. This policy shift is largely attributed to South Sudan’s transitional government failing to accept the return of its repatriated citizens promptly.

Broader Context of Deportations

The Trump administration has made several changes to immigration policy, including ending deportation protections for a significant number of Venezuelans while ramping up illegal immigration crackdowns.

Only a limited number of countries, including El Salvador, have third-party deportation agreements with the U.S. El Salvador has accepted numerous Venezuelan immigrants under the Trump administration’s policies.

The Situation in South Sudan

South Sudan, established as a nation in 2011, is currently on the brink of civil war. The country is experiencing escalating armed conflict, widespread displacement, and severe food insecurity, raising alarms about the safety of deported individuals.

Recent Developments at U.S. Embassy

The U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, has suspended operations concerning visa, passport, and other routine consular services since April 22, 2023. This suspension adds another layer of complexity to the already challenging situation facing migrants and the broader implications of U.S. foreign policy.

As the administration navigates these legal developments, the impact on deported immigrants and U.S. diplomatic relations with countries like South Sudan may evolve significantly.

Reporting contributions include insights from Fox News and The Associated Press.