Attorneys representing Asian migrants claim the US has deported individuals to South Sudan, violating a court order mandating meaningful opportunities to contest their deportations. This situation raises concerns regarding the safety and legality of such actions, especially as South Sudan faces ongoing conflict and instability.
Controversy Erupts Over US Deportation of Asian Migrants to Conflict-Ridden South Sudan
Controversy Erupts Over US Deportation of Asian Migrants to Conflict-Ridden South Sudan
Immigration lawyers allege that the US government has unlawfully deported Asian nationals to South Sudan despite a federal ruling requiring a chance to challenge removals.
The recent deportation of two Asian migrants to South Sudan by the US government has sparked significant legal and humanitarian debate. Immigration lawyers have brought forth allegations in a Boston court, asserting that the deportations are in direct violation of a federal ruling that mandates migrants must have the opportunity to challenge their removals to third countries.
On Tuesday, a flight carrying approximately a dozen deported individuals, including citizens from Myanmar and Vietnam, landed in South Sudan, one of the world's least developed nations known for its ongoing conflict and political issues. The attorneys from the National Immigration Litigation Alliance submitted an emergency request to a federal judge, seeking to halt these deportations. The case highlights the tension between current immigration practices under the Trump administration and existing legal protections for migrants.
Judge Brian Murphy, who had previously issued a ruling on April 18, emphasized that illegal migrants must be granted the ability to contest removals to nations other than their countries of origin. This ruling came amid reports that some migrants were at risk of being sent to Libya, a move Judge Murphy deemed unlawful.
In their court filing, attorneys for a Burmese client detailed that he had limited English proficiency and had resisted signing a removal notice provided by immigration officials at a detention facility in Texas. The situation escalated when, after the attorney noticed her client was missing from the immigration detainee locator, she learned he had been deported to South Sudan.
She was informed of his deportation via email, which also revealed that another Vietnamese man likely faced a similar fate after being on the same flight. The spouse of the Vietnamese man reached out in desperation, highlighting concerns for the safety and legality of the deportations, given the US travel advisory warning against travel to South Sudan due to rising crime and armed conflict.
As today's news unfolds, the implications of these actions may incite further legal challenges and debates regarding the treatment of migrants and US immigration policy.
