The U.S. Supreme Court has authorized the deportation of eight migrants to South Sudan, despite warnings from human rights groups about potential security risks and abuses in the country.
The ruling overturns a previous court injunction that had allowed the migrants to challenge their deportation on the grounds of fear of torture.
Tricia McLoughlin, assistant to the Secretary of Homeland Security, hailed the decision as a “victory for the rule of law,” confirming that the deportations would proceed today.
Migrant rights organizations expressed deep concern, accusing the court of “rewarding the government for violating court orders,” and warning that the deportees’ lives may now be at serious risk.
This decision comes despite an active U.S. State Department travel advisory warning against travel to South Sudan due to armed conflict and crime. The administration defends the deportation policy as a matter of national security, particularly for migrants convicted of criminal offenses.
