South Sudan mentioned Saturday it repatriated to Mexico a person deported from the US in July.
The person, a Mexican recognized as Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez, was amongst a bunch of eight who’ve been in authorities custody within the East African nation since their deportation from the U.S.
One other deportee, a South Sudanese nationwide, has since been freed whereas six others stay in custody.
South Sudan’s Overseas Ministry mentioned it carried out Munoz-Gutierrez’s repatriation to Mexico in live performance with the Mexican Embassy in neighboring Ethiopia.
The transfer was carried out “in full accordance with related worldwide legislation, bilateral agreements, and established diplomatic protocols,” the ministry mentioned in a press release.
In feedback to journalists in Juba, the South Sudan capital, Munoz-Gutierrez mentioned he “felt kidnapped” when the U.S. despatched him to South Sudan.
“I used to be not planning to come back to South Sudan, however whereas I used to be right here they handled me effectively,” he mentioned. “I completed my time in the US, they usually have been speculated to return me to Mexico. As a substitute, they wrongfully despatched me to South Sudan.”
The U.S. Division of Homeland Safety has mentioned that Munoz-Gutierrez had a conviction for second-degree homicide and was sentenced to life in jail.
South Sudan is partaking different international locations about repatriating the six deportees nonetheless in custody, mentioned Apuk Ayuel Mayen, a Overseas Ministry spokesperson.
It’s not clear whether or not the deportees have entry to authorized illustration.
Rights teams have argued that the Trump administration’s rising observe of deporting migrants to 3rd international locations violates worldwide legislation and the essential rights of migrants.
The deportations have been blocked or restricted by U.S. federal courts, although the Supreme Courtroom in June allowed the federal government to restart swift removals of migrants to international locations apart from their homelands.
Different African nations receiving deportees from the U.S. embody Uganda, Eswatini and Rwanda. Eswatini acquired 5 males with legal backgrounds in July, and the Trump administration desires to ship Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man mistakenly deported to his native El Salvador earlier this yr, to the southern African kingdom. Rwanda introduced the arrival of a bunch of seven deportees in mid-August.
Machol writes for the Related Press.
