Trump Wins Supreme Court Support to Deport Migrants to South Sudan Despite Torture Concerns

 

The United States Supreme Court has backed President Donald Trump’s administration in a highly controversial immigration case, approving the deportation of several migrants to South Sudan — a country still struggling with armed conflict, political instability, and a fragile justice system.

This ruling, issued after a legal tug-of-war between federal judges and government agencies, overrides a previous injunction by a Boston judge who sought to delay deportations on humanitarian grounds. According to court sources, the migrants were denied the right to raise claims about the threats of torture and violence they could face upon arrival in the African nation.

Human rights organizations have condemned the decision, calling it a “dangerous precedent” that prioritizes political objectives over basic human dignity. South Sudan, marred by years of civil unrest and economic collapse, remains one of the world’s most unstable nations. Reports indicate that the deportees include individuals previously accused of minor offenses, raising further concerns about the proportionality and legality of the removals.

The US Department of Homeland Security insists that South Sudan has provided “credible diplomatic assurances” that the deportees would not be harmed. But legal experts and humanitarian groups are skeptical, pointing to the country's poor record on human rights and ongoing internal conflicts.

The legal battle stems from a broader policy shift under Trump’s administration, which seeks to expand “third-country deportations” — the removal of migrants to nations they are not originally from, often without formal hearings or notification.

Two Supreme Court justices dissented, warning that the ruling strips vulnerable individuals of their constitutional rights. Justice Sonia Sotomayor described the action as a “gross abuse of power” that exposes people to irreversible harm.

With this ruling, the administration has been empowered to continue housing deportees at a US military base in Djibouti, pending transportation. The Justice Department argues this is necessary to enforce immigration laws and avoid diplomatic friction with countries unwilling to accept back their citizens.

As global scrutiny intensifies, this case underscores a growing divide between the White House and humanitarian advocates over the ethics and legality of modern immigration enforcement tactics.

Meanwhile, the deportees and their families wait in fear — not only of being sent into a conflict zone, but of being forgotten by the very system meant to protect their lives and rights.

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Source: Compiled from international legal briefings and humanitarian reports.