A federal judge in Boston ruled that the U.S. government broke a court directive by deporting a group of migrants without following proper legal procedures. The decision came during an emergency hearing where Judge Brian E. Murphy said these deportations, including some to South Sudan, conflicted with an earlier court order that banned such removals without due process.
The group deported included eight individuals from several countries: Myanmar, Laos, Cuba, Mexico, and one from South Sudan. Lawyers representing the migrants said their clients were given less than 24 hours’ notice before the deportation. The judge stated this was not enough time for legal action to be taken.
An immigration lawyer described the deportation process as chaotic, with the final destinations of the migrants changing multiple times. Initial reports suggested Libya, then South Africa, and finally South Sudan. This confusion raised serious concerns about the handling of the deportations.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed a deportation flight occurred but did not disclose the migrants’ final locations. A government spokesperson labeled the migrants as dangerous offenders and criticized the judge for interfering with national security decisions.
Contrary to the government’s claims, reports indicate the deportation flight may have landed in Djibouti rather than South Sudan. Officials from South Sudan confirmed no deportees had arrived and stated that anyone not from South Sudan would be sent back to their home country.
Judge Murphy had earlier issued an injunction stopping deportations to third countries without notice and legal review. The recent deportations suggest the government ignored this order. In another case, government lawyers gave conflicting accounts about a Guatemalan migrant’s deportation, initially claiming he was informed of his destination but later admitting they could not confirm this.
Legal experts warn that many of the deported individuals belong to vulnerable groups. One Burmese migrant faces danger if returned to Myanmar or sent to South Sudan, as both locations are currently unsafe due to ongoing conflicts.
