Supreme Court approves deportation of migrants to South Sudan despite safety concerns

In June 2025, the US Supreme Court issued a decision allowing the Trump administration to proceed with deportations of migrants from Djibouti to South Sudan. The group consists of individuals with criminal records who had been temporarily held at a U.S. military facility in Djibouti after their flight was diverted. A federal judge had previously imposed a stay on these third-country deportations, arguing that the migrants had not been provided with a meaningful opportunity to contest their removal. However, the Supreme Court's ruling lifted this stay, effectively permitting the administration to expedite the deportation process. This ruling has stirred significant controversy, particularly among liberal justices who voiced concerns about the potential risks these migrants could face in South Sudan, a country grappling with instability and violence. Critics have accused the administration of disregarding the human rights implications of such deportations and of treating the judicial process as a mere formality in its efforts to enforce stricter immigration policies. The legal battle reflects ongoing tensions in U.S. immigration politics, with the current administration seeking to remove individuals considered undesirable by asserting the need for national security and public safety, while opponents argue for more humane treatment of deportees. The Supreme Court's decision marks a pivotal moment in ongoing efforts to redefine immigration enforcement actions amidst complex legal and ethical dilemmas, raising further questions about the rights of migrants in the increasingly stringent framework of U.S. immigration law.