Immigration attorneys in Massachusetts are taking a stand against an alleged move by the Trump administration to deport migrants to third countries, specifically South Sudan. In a court filing submitted on Tuesday, attorneys have requested that federal Judge Brian Murphy intervene and immediately order the return of any migrants who may have already been sent to these third countries or locations that are not their original home countries.
On Monday, migrants from Myanmar, Vietnam, and other nations who lack legal status in the U.S. received alarming notices indicating that they were slated for deportation. Their attorneys reported that when they attempted to reach detainees for assistance on Tuesday, officials at the Port Isabel Detention Center in Texas confirmed that at least one individual, originally from Myanmar, had already been deported to South Sudan.
The plaintiffs in this case are requesting an immediate court order for the return of any class members who have been removed to South Sudan. This request has been documented in filings made to the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts. Furthermore, the attorneys are urging the government to refrain from deporting migrants to any nation that is not their country of origin unless they receive proper written notice and sufficient time to contest their deportation.
The lawyers argue that the Trump administration's actions to deport their clients are in direct violation of a judicial order that prohibits deportations to third countries without ensuring adequate due process. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding these serious allegations.
Under the Trump administration, negotiations have reportedly been taking place with various countries willing to accept deported individuals from the U.S. Notably, the DHS has previously deported over 200 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, claiming that some of these individuals were affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang. This deportation was facilitated under the Alien Enemies Act, a lesser-known wartime statute that allows for expedited removals. Additionally, the Trump administration has allocated $6 million to El Salvador to assist in housing these deportees.
Earlier in May, the administration even attempted to arrange for the deportation of migrants to Libya, despite significant concerns raised by human rights organizations regarding the violence and the poor human rights record in that country.
This ongoing legal battle highlights the contentious issues surrounding immigration and deportation policies, particularly in relation to the rights of migrants facing removal to countries that are not their own. As the situation develops, the actions of the Massachusetts federal court and the responses from the DHS will be closely monitored by immigration advocacy groups and the public alike.
