Judge Warns Trump Administration Over Migrant Deportations to South Sudan

A U.S. judge warned that President Donald Trump's team could face contempt of court. This follows reports of migrants being sent to South Sudan.

Judge Brian Murphy stated this might violate his previous order. That order mandated that the U.S. cannot send people to other countries without allowing them a fair chance to contest it in court.

Lawyers reported that a flight with around 12 people landed in South Sudan on Tuesday.

This is the latest conflict between Trump and federal courts. Trump has promised to remove many migrants from the U.S.

Lawyers from the National Immigration Litigation Alliance asked Judge Murphy to halt more flights. They claimed people from Myanmar and Vietnam were also sent out.

Judge Murphy, appointed by President Biden, said, "It looks like my order was broken." He added, "This may be contempt of court."

Justice Department lawyer Elianis Perez stated that one migrant from Myanmar was sent back to that country, not South Sudan. She did not disclose where a Vietnamese man was sent, calling that information "classified." She mentioned the man had been found guilty of murder.

A Department of Homeland Security lawyer noted that a rapist was also on the flight.

Judge Murphy did not order the plane to return to the U.S. However, he insisted that the migrants must remain in government custody and be treated well. He indicated the plane might need to stay on the ground after landing.

On April 18, the judge ruled that migrants must have a chance to contest being sent to countries other than their own.

When reports suggested some might go to Libya, the judge warned that would violate his order.

The BBC has requested a comment from the Department of Homeland Security.

Lawyers noted that the Burmese man, known as N.M., spoke little English. He refused to sign a paper agreeing to leave. A lawyer later discovered that N.M. was no longer listed in the U.S. immigration system. She was informed he had been sent to South Sudan.

Another man, known as T.T.P. from Vietnam, may have been sent out similarly. His wife emailed a lawyer, stating about 10 people were on the flight, including individuals from Laos, Thailand, Pakistan, and Mexico.

"Please help!" she wrote. "They cannot be allowed to do this."

South Sudan, which became a country in 2011, experienced a civil war shortly after. The U.S. government warns against travel there due to violence and crime.

Trump’s team has sought several countries to accept migrants. Rwanda mentioned it was in talks with the U.S. Other countries mentioned include Benin, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, and Moldova.

This case is part of a larger struggle between Trump and the courts.

Another judge in Washington, D.C., indicated that Trump officials may have violated the law. They had sent Venezuelans out without allowing them to speak in court.