South Sudan’s government has publicly stated that it has no formal agreement with the United States to receive third-country nationals deported from American soil, following the recent arrival of seven individuals from various nations.
According to Apuk Ayuel Mayen, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the seven deportees—two from Myanmar, two from Cuba, and one each from Vietnam, Laos, and Mexico—were received in Juba on July 5 under a one-time bilateral engagement with the Trump administration. The group also included one South Sudanese national.
“There are no discussions on deportations, and there is no deal that has been signed in regards to that,” Mayen told journalists during a press briefing in the capital. “There was bilateral engagement around deporting the seven deportees between our government and the government of the United States.”
The clarification comes amid growing speculation about whether South Sudan is becoming a destination for third-country nationals deported from the U.S., particularly those with no legal or familial ties to the East African nation.
In addition to the recent arrivals, Mayen confirmed that 23 South Sudanese citizens previously deported from the United States have now been successfully reunited with their families in South Sudan.
The Ministry emphasized that any future deportation arrangements would require formal diplomatic negotiations and legal frameworks, underscoring South Sudan’s commitment to maintaining sovereignty over its immigration policies.
This development raises broader questions about international deportation practices and the responsibilities of receiving nations, especially those with limited infrastructure to support non-native arrivals.
