US Deports Eight Immigrants to South Sudan Amid Legal Battle
In a contentious legal battle, the Trump administration has successfully deported eight immigrants to South Sudan, a country torn by war and one which the US State Department advises against traveling to due to rampant crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict. This move comes after the US Supreme Court twice upheld the administration's right to deport foreign nationals to countries outside their own, including countries with which they have no connection.
Rising Tensions and Legal Wrangling
The eight immigrants, who hail from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Burma, Vietnam, and South Sudan, initially had their deportations put on hold by District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington. Moss made this ruling on July 4th in order to give the immigrants time to make an argument to a Massachusetts court. This move was an extraordinary twist of events that came just hours after the Supreme Court had cleared the way for the Trump administration to proceed with the deportations.
The immigrants have argued that their deportations to South Sudan would constitute cruel and unusual punishment, which is prohibited by the US Constitution. The Department of Homeland Security has stated that these individuals have been convicted of various crimes, including murder for four of them. They have been detained for six weeks at a US military base in Djibouti.
Supreme Court’s Decisive Intervention
The legal battle reached a climax when the Supreme Court intervened, overturning a lower court’s decision that would have allowed the immigrants to contest their removal. The Supreme Court also granted the Trump administration's request to clarify
a prior ruling, confirming that their June 23 stay of a lower court injunction also blocked a follow-up remedial order issued May 21. This order would have required the government to give the immigrants notice and a chance to raise claims under the Convention Against Torture before being sent to a third country.
Implications and Reactions
This move has sparked a range of reactions. The Department of Homeland Security celebrated the deportations, announcing on Independence Day that the eight immigrants had been deported after weeks of delays caused by activist judges
. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin noted that the deportations put an end to a situation that had left ICE officers stranded and at risk.
However, the move has also raised serious human rights concerns. Lawyers for the immigrants had raised concerns about potential torture in South Sudan, leading to the initial blocking of the handover by the courts.
Current Status
The eight immigrants arrived in South Sudan on Friday after a protracted legal battle. The Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Trump administration's right to deport foreign nationals to third countries, even if they have no connection to those countries, marks a significant victory for the Trump administration's immigration policies. This case could potentially set a precedent for future deportations under similar circumstances.