The ongoing immigration controversy in the United States reached a new peak when Federal Judge Brian Murphy ruled that eight immigrants , all convicted of violent crimes , were not to be expelled to South Sudan , a nation grappling with conflict and economic hardship. Instead, these individuals will remain temporarily in Djibouti , following this legal decision on May 22, 2025.
The government originally sought to fly these immigrants directly to South Sudan, yet faced backlash due to the lack of consent from their home nations for such expulsions. The list includes nationals from various countries: two Burmese , a Vietnamese , a Laotian , two Cubans , a Mexican , and a South Sudanese .
On the basis of a ruling made by Judge Murphy, it was determined that the Trump administration had contravened a previous court decision regarding notification protocols. The judge criticized the late notice of less than twenty-four hours given for these individuals’ expulsion, especially to a country which carries travel warnings from the U.S. government.
More than 10,000 Afghans living in the United States could be expelled after the revocation of their protection status
According to Judge Murphy’s verdict, in cases of expulsion to a third country , the affected individuals must first be notified and afforded ample time—a minimum of ten days —to lodge an appeal based on the United Nations Convention Against Torture . This protocol aims to ensure that no individual is sent back to a country where they may face serious harm or persecution.
Accusations and Aftermath
Following the ruling, former President Donald Trump took to his social media platform to criticize the judge’s decision. He alleged that the magistrate had effectively ordered these individuals, described as “the most violent criminals on earth,” to remain in Djibouti instead of reaching South Sudan, where a significant U.S. military base is located. Trump expressed disappointment over what he termed a failure to allow these “monsters” to complete their journey.
Furthermore, the ruling allows six of the eight immigrants—the majority of whom are convicted violent offenders —to assert their fear of torture or ill-treatment should they be returned to South Sudan. If the Department of Homeland Security deems these fears unfounded, individuals are entitled to fifteen days to seek a review of their expulsion process.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is alarmed by migrant expulsions in the United States
Judge Murphy’s ruling provided further instructions, granting the U.S. government discretion to either return these individuals to the United States or keep them in Djibouti, as long as they remain in the care of the Department of Homeland Security .