• The U.S. has deported eight men to conflict-ridden South Sudan after weeks of legal battles.
• The deported men include nationals from various countries and have serious criminal convictions.
• A Supreme Court ruling allowed their removal despite due process concerns raised by lower courts.
• The deportees were held at a U.S. military base in Djibouti before their transfer to South Sudan.
• The U.S. State Department warns against travel to South Sudan due to significant safety risks.

The U.S. government confirmed the deportation of eight men to South Sudan, a nation marked by ongoing conflict and instability, following extensive legal wrangling. These individuals, including nationals from Myanmar, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and Mexico, were deported after being held under guard at a military base in Djibouti for several weeks during their legal challenges. Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin stated, "This was a win for the rule of law, safety and security of the American people," while highlighting the deportations as a significant policy achievement for the Trump administration, which has sought to expand removals to dangerous third countries like South Sudan, which the State Department advises against visiting due to "crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict," according to Los Angeles Times, Al Jazeera, and HuffPost.

The deportees had faced serious criminal charges in the U.S., including murder and sexual assault, and had completed their prison sentences. Legal proceedings leading up to the deportation involved a block by a U.S. district judge, advocating for due process rights, stating that migrants must be informed of their deportations and allowed access to asylum officers. However, a ruling from the Supreme Court effectively overturned this lower court’s decision, asserting that immigration officials could proceed with deportations without adherence to earlier judicial constraints. This ruling has reinforced the administration’s stance on third-country deportations, according to India Times and South China Morning Post.