South Sudan has repatriated a Mexican national who was deported from the United States in July, officials confirmed Saturday.
The man, identified as Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez, was among eight people held in government custody since their deportation to the East African country.
South Sudan’s foreign ministry said the repatriation was completed in coordination with the Mexican Embassy in Ethiopia, following diplomatic consultations.
Officials stressed the process was carried out “in full accordance with international law, bilateral agreements, and established diplomatic protocols,” according to a ministry statement.
The case highlights a broader pattern of U.S. deportations to third countries, a practice rights groups argue undermines international law and migrants’ rights.
Critics say the Trump administration’s policy of redirecting migrants to unfamiliar states adds to displacement, legal uncertainty, and potential human rights violations.
While U.S. courts challenged the practice, the Supreme Court in June permitted the government to resume swift removals to third countries.
It remains unclear whether Gutierrez or others deported to South Sudan had access to adequate legal counsel during their transfer.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Gutierrez was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment before deportation.
South Sudan is not the only African nation receiving deportees; Uganda, Eswatini, and Rwanda have also accepted groups in recent months.
Eswatini acknowledged the arrival of five men with criminal records in July, while Rwanda announced seven deportees in August, fueling controversy.
Rights advocates warn such transfers leave individuals stranded in places with no cultural ties, no legal support, and fragile institutional systems.
South Sudan’s repatriation of Gutierrez to Mexico, however, signals that fragile states can still manoeuvre complex diplomacy under difficult international circumstances.
