Eight individuals in United States custody have failed in their last attempt to avoid deportation to South Sudan, a country currently facing criticism for human rights abuses.
On Friday, Judge Brian Murphy of Boston rejected an eleventh-hour appeal, which had been the focus of significant legal activity throughout the day.
The appeal had argued that repeated efforts by the Trump administration to deport these men to South Sudan constituted “impermissibly punitive” actions. It referenced the US Constitution’s prohibition on “cruel and unusual punishment.”
The US Department of State has previously accused South Sudan of “extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, torture, and cases of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment.” It advises American citizens against traveling to the country due to ongoing armed conflict.
Despite these concerns, the US Supreme Court has ruled twice that the Trump administration has the authority to deport individuals to countries outside their homelands, with its latest decision issued on Thursday.
The US Department of Justice confirmed that the eight men were scheduled to be deported to South Sudan by 7 PM US Eastern Time (23:00 GMT) on Friday. These individuals hailed from countries including Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Sudan, and Vietnam.
The last-ditch appeal was filed on Thursday night, following the Supreme Court’s decision.
Initially, the case was assigned to US District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington, DC, who initially showed sympathy to the deportees’ request. He briefly ordered a halt to the deportation until 4:30 PM Eastern Time (20:30 GMT), but ultimately transferred the case back to Murphy.
Murphy had previously issued injunctions against deportations to South Sudan, leading to successful appeals from the Trump administration. The eight men had been held at a military base in Djibouti during the legal proceedings.
Judge Moss indicated before transferring the case to Murphy that the deportees might be able to prove that the Trump administration intended to subject them to abuse.
“To me, it seems almost self-evident that the US government cannot send human beings to circumstances where their physical wellbeing is at risk, either as punishment or to send a signal to others,” Moss stated during the hearing.
In contrast, lawyers for the Trump administration argued that further delays in the deportation process could strain relations with countries willing to accept migrants.
Murphy, who denied the Friday request, had previously ruled in favor of the deportees by issuing an injunction against their removal to South Sudan. He acknowledged their right to contest deportation due to safety concerns.
The Supreme Court had previously overturned the injunction on June 23 and reaffirmed its ruling on Thursday, providing a subtle rebuke to Judge Murphy.
The Trump administration has been advocating for rapid removals as part of its mass deportation campaign, one of President Trump’s key priorities. Critics have accused the administration of disregarding the human rights of undocumented individuals to achieve its objectives, including their right to due process.
The Trump administration, however, frames undocumented migration as an “invasion” posing a national security crisis and argues that its aggressive efforts are necessary to expel criminals.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the eight migrants scheduled to be deported to South Sudan are described as “barbaric, violent criminal illegal aliens.” The DHS adds that they have been convicted of serious crimes such as first-degree murder, robbery, and sexual assault.
“The DHS stated in a press release on Thursday that these individuals will be in South Sudan by Independence Day,” Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/4/migrants-in-us-detention-lose-appeal-against-deportation-to-south-sudan?traffic_source=rss
