Trump's Deportation U-Turn 8 Migrants Sent Back Despite Lawsuit!

Trump Administration Deports 8 Migrants to South Sudan

The Trump administration has deported eight migrants to South Sudan, a move that follows a legal battle and a Supreme Court ruling. According to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official, the deportation occurred after the administration initially had to halt their deportation to a base in Djibouti.

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated to ABC News:

"A district judge cannot dictate the national security and foreign policy of the United States of America. This Independence Day marks another victory for the safety and security of the American people."

The plane carrying the migrants landed in South Sudan just before midnight EST on Friday.

These eight migrants, whom DHS alleges have serious criminal convictions, were at the center of a lawsuit that initially halted their deportation to South Sudan. This legal action led to their temporary relocation to a U.S. military base in Djibouti.

Conditions at the Djibouti base reportedly posed challenges for both the detainees and the ICE officials responsible for their oversight. The lawsuit eventually reached the Supreme Court, which ruled that the Trump administration was not bound by a lower court order to keep the migrants at the military facility in Djibouti.

In a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court clarified that the noncitizens the Trump administration sought to deport to South Sudan were not protected by a lower court order requiring them to remain in Djibouti while legal proceedings unfolded. This decision marks another victory for the Trump administration's efforts to deport immigrants to countries with which they may have limited ties and where they could potentially face mistreatment.

The Supreme Court, in an unsigned opinion, explained that since judge-imposed due process requirements for third-country removals were lifted last month, the government can no longer be held accountable for allegedly violating those requirements.

However, the deportation has drawn strong criticism. One of the lawyers representing the group of men described their deportation to South Sudan as "punitive and unconstitutional."

Trina Realmuto stated to ABC News:

"Because of the Supreme Court's procedural ruling, these men were denied an opportunity to contest their deportations to South Sudan based on their fear of torture or death. The U.S. State Department warns Americans against all travel to South Sudan yet deported these men there without any due process. Make no mistake about it, these deportations were punitive and unconstitutional."

Here's a recap of the key events:

• Eight migrants deported to South Sudan by the Trump administration.
• Initial deportation halted and migrants moved to a U.S. military base in Djibouti.
• Supreme Court ruled the administration was not bound by a lower court order to keep them in Djibouti.
• Critics argue the deportation is "punitive and unconstitutional," citing potential dangers in South Sudan.

The deportation of these eight migrants to South Sudan underscores the complexities and controversies surrounding immigration policy and the balance between national security concerns and individual rights. The legal and ethical implications of such actions will likely continue to be debated as immigration policies evolve.

ABC News' Laura Romero contributed to this report.

Tags: Migrants, Deportation, South Sudan, Djibouti, Trump Administration, DHS, National Security, Foreign Policy, Tricia McLaughlin, ABC News, Supreme Court, Immigration.

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-administration-deports-8-migrants-south-sudan/story?id=123499255