A federal court has blocked the Trump administration’s plan to deport eight men to South Sudan, citing inadequate notice and insufficient time for them to challenge their deportation. The ruling came after the White House expressed dissatisfaction with the order.
The Trump administration’s plan to send eight men to South Sudan has been halted by a federal court, citing inadequate notice and insufficient time for the individuals to challenge their deportation.
Background of the Controversy
The men, who were convicted of criminal offenses, were scheduled to be removed from the United States on Tuesday and flown to South Sudan. The countries where they are from – Myanmar, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, Mexico, and South Sudan – had declined to accept them for repatriation.
Court Ruling and Criticism
On Wednesday evening, a US district judge in Boston ruled that the administration had disregarded his earlier directive issued in April, which stated that anyone being deported to third-party countries has the right to challenge it legally. The court criticized the brief window allowed for the men to object to their transfer, labeling it ‘clearly inadequate‘.
White House Response
The White House responded to the ruling by expressing dissatisfaction with the order. In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Donald Trump wrote that the judge had blocked the removal of ‘eight of the most violent criminals on Earth’ and that they would now remain in Djibouti for two weeks.
Conditions for Deportation
The court’s ruling stipulated that the men must receive adequate notice and a minimum of 15 days to contest their deportation, aligning with international human rights standards. It also specified that six of the individuals had the right to assert, with legal representation, fears of torture or mistreatment in the destination country.
Concerns Over Processing
Attorneys for two of the men – one from Vietnam and one from Myanmar – stated that their clients were informed only a night before or on the day of the scheduled flight, despite claims from the administration that they had been properly notified.
