In a controversial late-night ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the path on Thursday for the deportation of eight immigrants to South Sudan, a country wracked by violence and political instability. The decision, split along ideological lines, overrides a previous order by federal judge Brian Murphy that temporarily blocked the deportations on humanitarian grounds.
✈️ Deportation Flight to Resume
- The immigrants—previously convicted of serious crimes in the U.S.—were detoured in May to a naval base in Djibouti after Judge Murphy halted their removal.
- The Supreme Court’s conservative majority found that Murphy’s ruling was no longer enforceable and immigration officials can now send the migrants to South Sudan by Friday.
- DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the flight would resume immediately: “This is a win for the rule of law, safety, and security of the American people.”
⚖️ Liberal Justices Dissent Strongly
Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented:
“Other litigants must follow the rules, but the administration has the Supreme Court on speed dial,” Sotomayor wrote.
Justice Elena Kagan added that while she disagreed with the lower court’s broader reasoning, she opposed overriding Murphy’s specific protection of the migrants.
🛑 Grave Humanitarian Concerns
Attorneys for the men, represented by the National Immigration Litigation Alliance, argue that their clients face “imprisonment, torture, and even death” if returned to South Sudan.
“We know they’ll face perilous conditions, and potentially immediate detention, upon arrival,”
said Trina Realmuto, executive director of the alliance.
Judge Murphy had ruled that while deportations to third countries aren’t banned, migrants must get a fair opportunity to prove they face danger or torture—even if prior appeals had been denied.
🔥 Broader Immigration Crackdown Underway
This ruling comes amid Donald Trump’s renewed mass deportation efforts, backed by the newly passed “Big Beautiful Bill”, which dramatically expands ICE enforcement powers and deportation infrastructure.
- Trump officials had labeled Murphy’s earlier order “a lawless act of defiance.”
- The administration has also reached agreements with third countries to house deportees, when direct repatriation isn’t possible.
⛓️ Detained in Harsh Conditions
- The eight men, along with their guards, have spent weeks inside converted shipping containers at a naval base in Djibouti, living in poor conditions, awaiting a decision.
- The flight was originally grounded after officials failed to comply with Murphy’s ruling, prompting legal action and public outcry.
Bottom Line:
The Supreme Court’s emergency ruling has overturned a key legal safeguard for immigrants facing deportation to unsafe third countries. The deportations to South Sudan are now imminent, raising significant concerns about human rights violations, as the U.S. expands its hardline immigration agenda under President Trump’s second term.