The Voice News I A federal judge in Massachusetts has ruled that the Trump administration “unquestionably” violated a court order by deporting migrants to South Sudan without proper notice or due process. Judge Brian E. Murphy made the ruling after an emergency hearing in Boston concerning the removal of eight migrants, most of whom are from countries other than South Sudan.
Lawyers representing seven men — nationals from Burma, Laos, Mexico, and Cuba — revealed their clients received less than 24 hours’ notice before being expelled. Judge Murphy described this timeframe as “plainly insufficient.” The eighth deportee was a South Sudanese citizen.
One deportee, identified as NM, initially was told he was being sent to Libya, then South Africa, and only later to South Sudan. His lawyer noted NM is part of an ethnic minority in Myanmar and faces grave risks if deported there or to South Sudan, which is on the brink of civil war.
The Department of Homeland Security and Justice Department have not provided clear information about the final destinations of these deportations, raising concerns about transparency and legality. Judge Murphy ordered officials to clarify the details surrounding NM’s removal, including when and why decisions about his destination changed.
South Sudanese authorities said they have not received the deportees and warned that anyone not from their country would be deported again. Immigration lawyers accused the Trump administration of violating court orders multiple times over recent weeks in similar cases.
During the hearing, Murphy also criticized government lawyers for misleading the court regarding the deportation of a Guatemalan man to Mexico, calling it “a really big deal” to lie under oath.
Following the hearing, Murphy clarified that any deportations to third countries must be preceded by formal notice and provide at least 10 days for affected individuals to challenge their removal.
A Homeland Security spokesperson defended the deportations, calling the individuals “barbaric, violent” and criticized the judge for interfering with U.S. foreign policy and national security decisions.
The ruling highlights growing concerns about the Trump administration’s deportation practices, particularly the risks faced by migrants sent to unstable or unsafe countries without adequate legal safeguards.