US deports Asians to war-torn South Sudan

The Trump administration deported eight men — including Asian nationals — convicted of serious crimes to conflict-ridden South Sudan last week, marking an unprecedented expansion of the president’s immigration crackdown to a country the U.S. warns Americans not to visit.

Catch up: The deportees — hailing from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Sudan, Vietnam and none from South Sudan — were convicted of crimes such as murder, homicide, sexual assault, lascivious acts with a child and robbery. Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin announced the flight landed just before midnight Friday, with photos showing shackled men guarded by U.S. service members. The men had been held for weeks at Camp Lemonnier naval base in Djibouti under dangerous conditions, including malaria concerns and triple-digit temperatures.

In May, U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy ruled the administration breached court orders by sending the men to South Sudan without adequate due process. The deportations followed dramatic legal battles, with Murphy ultimately ruling Friday that Supreme Court orders were “binding” after the nation’s highest court cleared the way Thursday.

Under “care”: South Sudanese authorities confirmed Tuesday that the eight men were in government custody after arriving Saturday at Juba International Airport. Foreign ministry spokesperson Apuk Ayuel said the men are “under the care of the relevant authorities who are screening them and ensuring their safety and well-being.” However, prominent civic leader Edmund Yakani criticized the move, saying, “South Sudan is not a dumping ground for criminals.” The men’s location has not been disclosed.

The big picture: The deportations represent a major victory for the administration’s efforts to convince third countries to accept non-citizen deportees regardless of human rights records. The strategy emerges when origin countries refuse deportees — Vietnam has historically limited acceptance of deportees despite a 2020 agreement, as illustrated by Tuan Thanh Phan’s case, whose wife had prepared for his deportation to Vietnam before he was set for South Sudan. The case comes as the administration considers expanding travel restrictions to South Sudan, among 35 other countries, over security concerns and insufficient deportation coordination.

The Supreme Court’s ruling may enable similar future transfers to third countries despite ongoing due process challenges.