A group of migrants deported from the United States arrived in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, on Saturday, according to airport officials.
The individuals had been held at a U.S. military base in Djibouti before being transferred to Juba. Airport sources confirmed their arrival, noting the presence of American officials on site to oversee the process.
The deportations follow the failure of last-minute legal attempts to stop their removal. Eight migrants, whose identities and backgrounds had become the focus of a legal battle in U.S. courts, were denied protection by the Supreme Court. The court sided with the administration of President Donald Trump, lifting restrictions imposed by a lower judge and allowing the deportations to proceed.
Although only two of the deportees are originally from South Sudan, all eight were sent there under a policy permitting deportations to third countries—provided those nations offer credible diplomatic assurances of safety and non-persecution. The migrants reportedly held citizenships from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Vietnam, and South Sudan. The nationalities of the remaining two individuals were not disclosed publicly.
Tricia McLaughlin, Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, hailed the deportations as “a victory for the rule of law and the safety of the American people.”
Back in March, the U.S. government issued a directive enabling deportations to third countries without additional legal review, as long as the receiving nation provided trustworthy guarantees that deportees would not face torture or mistreatment. According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, South Sudan had offered such diplomatic assurances in this case.
South Sudanese officials have not issued a formal response regarding the arrival or future status of the deported individuals.
