The White House sharply criticized a federal judge on Thursday for blocking deportations of migrants to South Sudan, calling his ruling “judicial overreach.”
District Judge Brian Murphy ruled that the Trump administration violated a court injunction by deporting eight migrants from Texas to South Sudan.
Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt accused Murphy of forcing federal officials to remain in Djibouti for over two weeks, endangering diplomatic relations worldwide.
Leavitt described the migrants as “illegal murderers, criminals and rapists” and condemned the judge for interfering in matters beyond his authority.
“Judge Murphy is not the Secretary of State, Defense, or Commander-in-Chief,” she said. “He cannot dictate U.S. foreign policy or national security.”
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the deportations involved migrants from Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cuba, Mexico, and South Sudan, all reportedly with violent criminal convictions.
Attorneys for the deported migrants argue their clients were denied due process, with little notice and no court hearing before removal.
One lawyer said an ICE officer informed her client was among those sent to South Sudan, a country plagued by instability and human rights abuses.
Judge Murphy highlighted the migrants were given just 24 hours’ notice, making meaningful objection to their deportation impossible.
He emphasized the government’s failure to comply with his March injunction barring deportations to countries where migrants might face persecution or torture.
The case fuels a broader debate over immigration enforcement, judicial power, and U.S. diplomatic responsibilities amid complex global conflicts.
As tensions rise, the White House and judiciary clash over the balance between law enforcement and humanitarian protections.
