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The government of South Sudan announced that it is actively negotiating the return of several migrants who were deported from the United States under former President Donald Trump’s stringent immigration policies. These individuals, all of whom were convicted of serious crimes while in the U.S., were transferred to South Sudan in July 2025—despite only one of them actually being a South Sudanese national.
According to Apuk Ayuel Mayen, spokesperson for South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ministry is currently in communication with the countries of origin of the remaining deportees. “I can confirm that our ministry is engaging the countries who have their nationals here,” Mayen told journalists during a press briefing.
Among the eight individuals received from the United States, one — a Mexican national identified as Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez — has already been successfully repatriated. His return took place over the past weekend. The other six deportees still in South Sudan are nationals of Cuba, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
Mayen stated that diplomatic outreach is underway to facilitate the repatriation of the remaining individuals. “We are in engagement with their governments or trying to make contact with their governments for possible repatriation,” she explained.
However, she also acknowledged that repatriation may not be the only path forward. If the countries of origin refuse to accept their nationals, alternative solutions may need to be explored. “There could be other options available if their countries do not show interest to receive their nationals,” Mayen noted, though she declined to elaborate on what those alternatives might be.
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She concluded by expressing optimism about the situation, saying, “Hopefully, we will be announcing soon any other possible repatriation.” The unusual situation raises legal and diplomatic questions, especially regarding how and why South Sudan agreed to take in non-citizens deported from the U.S., and what will become of those who cannot be sent back to their home countries.
