Supreme Court Allows Deportation of Immigrants to South Sudan

The Supreme Court has authorized the deportation of several immigrants who were scheduled to be sent to South Sudan, a country where they have no established connections. This decision allows for the completion of a flight that was previously diverted.

The court's conservative majority determined that immigration officials can expedite the deportation of individuals to third countries. This ruling overturned a previous order that had allowed immigrants to contest their removal to countries outside their homeland if they faced potential danger. The flight to South Sudan, which was rerouted to a naval base in Djibouti, can now proceed.

The Supreme Court's decision effectively nullifies the findings of a federal judge in Massachusetts, Brian Murphy. The Department of Homeland Security indicated that the trip to South Sudan would be completed shortly after the court's ruling. The court did not provide a detailed legal explanation for its decision, a common practice in emergency cases.

Two dissenting justices, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, criticized the ruling, arguing that it grants the government preferential treatment. The eight immigrants involved could face severe risks, including imprisonment, torture, or even death, in South Sudan due to the ongoing political instability.

The decision comes amidst a broader immigration crackdown. The Trump administration, which initiated the policy, has described the previous legal challenges as defiance. Government officials have praised the Supreme Court's intervention as a victory for the rule of law and public safety.

Authorities have established agreements with other countries to accommodate immigrants if they cannot be immediately returned to their home countries. The eight men sent to South Sudan had been convicted of crimes in the U.S. and had received final deportation orders. Judge Murphy's initial ruling did not prevent deportations to third countries, but it did require that migrants be given the opportunity to argue against removal if they faced a risk of torture. The men and their guards have experienced difficult conditions at the naval base in Djibouti.