US completes deportation of 8 men to South Sudan after weeks of legal wrangling
Share and Follow


WASHINGTON (AP) — Eight men deported from the United States in May and held under guard for weeks at an American military base in the African nation of Djibouti while their legal challenges played out in court have now reached the Trump administration’s intended destination, war-torn South Sudan, a country the State Department advises against travel to due to “crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict.”

The immigrants from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Vietnam and South Sudan arrived in South Sudan on Friday after a federal judge cleared the way for the Trump administration to relocate them in a case that had gone to the Supreme Court, which had permitted their removal from the U.S. Administration officials said the men had been convicted of violent crimes in the U.S.

“This was a win for the rule of law, safety and security of the American people,” said Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin in a statement Saturday announcing the men’s arrival in South Sudan, a chaotic country in danger once more of collapsing into civil war.

The Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for the transfer of the men who had been put on a flight in May bound for South Sudan. That meant that the South Sudan transfer could be completed after the flight was detoured to a base in Djibouti, where they men were held in a converted shipping container. The flight was detoured after a federal judge found the administration had violated his order by failing to allow the men a chance to challenge the removal.

The court’s conservative majority had ruled in June that immigration officials could quickly deport people to third countries. The majority halted an order that had allowed immigrants to challenge any removals to countries outside their homeland where they could be in danger.

A flurry of court hearings on Independence Day resulted a temporary hold on the deportations while a judge evaluated a last-ditch appeal by the men’s before the judge decided he was powerless to halt their removals and that the person best positioned to rule on the request was a Boston judge whose rulings led to the initial halt of the administration’s effort to begin deportations to South Sudan.

By Friday evening, that judge had issued a brief ruling concluding the Supreme Court had tied his hands.

The men had final orders of removal, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have said. Authorities have reached agreements with other countries to house immigrants if authorities cannot quickly send them back to their homelands.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Experience the Vibrant Festivities of Champaign County’s Freedom Celebration

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — For yet another year, it was all about…

Fatal lightning deaths most common in Florida

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Since 2006, almost 500 people have been killed by…

Augusta Canal is open for kayaking in time for the holiday weekend

AUGUSTA, Ga () – The Augusta Canal is back open just in…

Elon Musk creates new political party following disagreement with Trump on tax cuts legislation

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Elon Musk say he’s carrying out his threat to…

Preparing Your Pets for a Hurricane: Getting Ready for Stormy Weather with Your Furry Friends

HOUSTON – Getting ready for a hurricane’s landfall means making sure everyone…

Nikki Haley’s Mother Sadly Passes Away

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley announced through…

The passing of Julian McMahon, known for his roles in ‘Fantastic Four’ movies and ‘Charmed’ TV series

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Julian McMahon, an Australia-born actor who performed in…

Coach Bielema introduces Military Appreciation Day at Memorial Stadium

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois Head Football Coach Bret Bielema and his…