Men Deported to South Sudan After Legal Battles in U.S.
WASHINGTON — Eight men who were deported from the United States in May have now arrived in South Sudan, a country ravaged by conflict, where the State Department warns against travel due to risks of “crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict.” They had been detained for weeks at an American military facility in Djibouti while their legal circumstances were debated in court.
The group, hailing from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Vietnam, and South Sudan, was transported to South Sudan on Friday following a federal court ruling that allowed for their relocation, a decision ultimately sanctioned by the Supreme Court. Administration officials indicated that these individuals had prior convictions for violent offenses in the U.S.
“This is a victory for the rule of law and the safety of Americans,” stated Tricia McLaughlin, press secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, in an announcement about the men’s arrival in South Sudan—a nation currently facing the threat of civil war.
The Supreme Court, in a decision made on Thursday, removed any hurdles for the men’s transfer, which had initially been disrupted by a flight intended for South Sudan that had to land in Djibouti. The diversion occurred after a federal judge determined that the administration had infringed on a ruling by not allowing the men an opportunity to contest their deportation.
In June, the court’s conservative justices ruled that immigration officials could expeditiously deport individuals to third countries. This ruling temporarily suspended an order that previously enabled immigrants to challenge deportations to nations where they could be endangered.
An urgent series of court proceedings on Independence Day resulted in a brief delay of the deportations while a judge assessed an emergency appeal from the men. Ultimately, he concluded that he lacked the authority to stop their removal, indicating that the Boston judge who had issued initial orders halting deportations was better suited to handle the matter.
As of Friday evening, that judge confirmed that the Supreme Court had limited his options in this situation.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, the men had been issued final orders of removal. The agency has also established agreements with other nations to accommodate immigrants who cannot be promptly returned to their countries of origin.
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