Washington, D.C. / Juba, South Sudan – July 2025
The Trump administration has completed the final phase of its contentious deportation program targeting South Sudanese nationals living in the United States. The policy, implemented over the last two years, has drawn significant criticism from human rights organizations, advocacy groups, and international observers concerned about the safety of deportees returning to a fragile and conflict-ridden South Sudan.
The deportations come despite ongoing civil conflict and humanitarian crises in South Sudan, where millions remain displaced and in need of urgent aid. Critics argue that sending people back to such an environment violates international protections and endangers lives.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), hundreds of South Sudanese individuals, many of whom sought asylum after fleeing violence, were forcibly returned in a series of flights. Officials defend the deportations as lawful enforcement of immigration statutes and highlight the need to uphold the integrity of U.S. borders.
“We respect due process and have followed all legal requirements in these cases,” said an ICE spokesperson. “Those who do not qualify for asylum or lawful status must return to their home countries.”
South Sudanese diaspora leaders and refugee advocates, however, describe the deportations as unjust and dangerous. “We’re sending people back into chaos and uncertainty,” said Amina Deng, director of a South Sudanese advocacy group in the U.S. “Many face threats to their lives, and the infrastructure to support returnees is nonexistent.”
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have called for an immediate halt to further deportations and for the U.S. government to reconsider its stance in light of South Sudan’s precarious security situation.
The South Sudanese government has so far offered limited comment, emphasizing its willingness to cooperate with international partners on repatriation efforts but warning of the challenges ahead.
Meanwhile, deportees arriving in Juba report difficulties accessing housing, healthcare, and employment, underscoring the fragile state of the young nation’s institutions.
This deportation campaign reflects broader tensions in U.S. immigration policy under the Trump administration, marked by increased enforcement and controversial measures affecting asylum seekers and refugees globally.
As debates continue, many in the South Sudanese-American community fear the long-term impact of these forced returns on families and communities both in the U.S. and in South Sudan.