A federal judge made a significant ruling on Friday, momentarily suspending the deportations of eight immigrants to the war-torn nation of South Sudan. This decision comes on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling that allowed for their removal. The case has now been reassigned to another judge in Boston, further complicating the administration's efforts to proceed with the deportations.
District Judge Randolph Moss determined that the case was better suited for Judge Brian Murphy, who previously issued a ruling that halted the Trump administration’s attempts to deport individuals to South Sudan. During an extraordinary hearing held on the Fourth of July, Judge Moss extended his temporary order that prevents the deportation of these immigrants until 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. However, it remains uncertain whether Judge Murphy would take any action regarding the deportation on the federal holiday.
Judge Moss underscored the necessity of a hearing to address new claims presented by the immigrants’ legal team. The administration has been pursuing the deportation of these individuals for several weeks, yet none of them are originally from South Sudan, a country currently engulfed in civil war. The U.S. government has strongly advised against any travel to South Sudan, stating that individuals should make their own funeral arrangements before considering travel to the region.
Logistically, the government had transported the immigrants to the U.S. Naval Base in Djibouti. However, their journey could not progress further due to Judge Murphy's earlier ruling, which prohibited the transfer of immigrants to a new country without the opportunity for a court hearing. Last month, the Supreme Court vacated Judge Murphy’s decision and, on Thursday night, issued a new directive that allowed for the immigrants' relocation to South Sudan.
Following the Supreme Court's order, lawyers representing the immigrants—who come from a diverse range of countries including Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, and Vietnam—filed an emergency request late Thursday to prevent their removal. This case was subsequently assigned to Judge Moss, who acted promptly to restrict the administration from transferring the immigrants from Djibouti to South Sudan until a hearing could take place. After transferring the case to Judge Murphy, Moss issued a slight extension to his order.
The administration had anticipated deporting the immigrants to South Sudan as early as Friday. This temporary stay on their deportation marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battle surrounding immigration and the complex issues related to deportation to conflict zones. The unfolding situation has garnered attention from legal experts and journalists alike, with the initial report of the temporary stay credited to legal journalist Chris Geidner.
