Federal Judge Hears Challenge to US Deportation Flight to Third Countries

The Trump administration faces legal challenges over its deportation of eight migrants to third countries, including South Sudan, a nation embroiled in civil conflict. Federal Judge Brian E. Murphy issued an order requiring the government to maintain custody of the migrants, citing concerns about due process and the safety of individuals deported to countries that are not their own. The Department of Homeland Security defended the deportations, labeling the migrants as convicted criminals responsible for violent offenses and asserting that their home countries refused to accept them. DHS officials criticized the judge's intervention as an improper intrusion into U.S. foreign policy and national security. The administration has refused to disclose the migrants’ final destination, although reports indicate the flight landed in Djibouti, with U.S. military personnel prepared to assist if needed. The controversy highlights broader tensions over the Trump administration's approach to immigration enforcement and the legal limits on deporting individuals to third countries without proper notice and judicial oversight.