Supreme Court Rules Trump Can Rapidly Deport Immigrants to Libya, South Sudan and Other Countries They Aren’t From

June 27, 2025

The Supreme Court has temporarily permitted the Trump administration to deport immigrants to dangerous "third countries" they are not from, overruling a federal judge who had blocked this practice. In a 6-3 decision, the Court allowed deportations to countries like South Sudan and Libya without giving immigrants time to contest their destinations, despite strong dissent from liberal justices. The administration is specifically targeting eight men, only one of whom is from South Sudan, while they await their fate at a U.S. military base in Djibouti.

Who is affected

Eight men convicted of crimes (from Cuba, Mexico, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and one from South Sudan) who may be deported to South Sudan
Immigrants who may be deported to Libya despite not being from there
Potential future deportees from 36 additional countries (mostly in Africa) that the administration is considering for third-country deportations
Migrants already in Libya and South Sudan who face violence, human rights abuses, and unstable conditions

What action is being taken

The Trump administration is actively deporting immigrants to countries they are not from, with current focus on South Sudan and Libya
The administration is seeking additional countries to accept deportees from the U.S.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is working to expand the list of countries in the travel ban, suggesting those countries could avoid harsh policies by accepting third-country deportees
The U.S. government is reportedly negotiating arrangements with countries like Libya and South Sudan that provide money or other benefits for accepting immigrants

Why it matters

Deportees are being sent to countries with documented human rights abuses, weak rule of law, and dangerous conditions
South Sudan is experiencing political instability, with 57% of its population facing food insecurity and over 2.3 million people having fled to neighboring countries since 2013
Libya has two rival governments, armed militia control, and documented abuses against migrants including enslavement, torture, and mass graves
The Supreme Court's ruling represents a significant shift in deportation policy, as the Trump administration is the first to pursue expedited removal of immigrants to countries outside Latin America

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint