A legal battle over deportations to conflict-scarred South Sudan has intensified after a US federal appeals court allowed the Trump administration to resume controversial third-country removals.
The US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit voted two to one to lift a lower court block, permitting deportations while the broader case proceeds.
The ruling overturned a pause ordered last month by District Judge Brian Murphy, who found the policy unlawful but delayed enforcement pending government appeal.
Judges said deportations could continue during litigation, restoring the administration’s authority as courts examine the policy’s legality and humanitarian implications.
Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the decision, calling it a major victory for President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda and broader enforcement strategy.
Trump campaigned on promises to deport millions of undocumented migrants, presenting strict removal policies as central to restoring border control and domestic security.
Murphy had warned that US law discourages deportations to countries where individuals could face torture, persecution, or threats to their lives.
The judge, appointed by former Democratic president Joe Biden, previously attempted to halt deportations involving migrants bound for war-affected South Sudan before the Supreme Court intervened.
US authorities said eight men targeted under the policy were convicted violent criminals from Myanmar, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, Mexico, and South Sudan.
Officials argue third-country deportations are necessary when migrants’ home governments refuse repatriation, leaving enforcement agencies struggling to carry out removal orders.
As the case moves forward, courts must weigh immigration enforcement powers against longstanding humanitarian safeguards embedded within American law and international protection norms.
