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Eight migrants held in shipping container for weeks, deported to South Sudan despite legal appeals

Jul 5, 2025

Eight migrants held in shipping container for weeks, deported to South Sudan despite legal appeals

Eight migrants from Burma, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, Mexico, and South Sudan were detained in a converted shipping container at a U.S. military base in Djibouti for more than six weeks while awaiting appeals filed by their lawyers. On July 5, 2025, they were deported to South Sudan. ICE agents transporting them described the living conditions as 'outrageous.' Mexican citizen Jesús Muñoz was subsequently repatriated to Mexico in early September, and South Sudanese citizen Peter Domach was released. Six other deportees' whereabouts remain unknown, with lawyers suggesting they may be imprisoned at the Blue House, South Sudan's National Security Services headquarters. The South Sudan government stated it would guarantee their safety but refused to disclose their location or eventual fate.

Timeline

Sep 5, 2025Mexican citizen Jesús Muñoz repatriated to Mexico; South Sudanese citizen Peter Domach released
Jul 5, 2025Eight migrants deported to South Sudan after six weeks of detention; ICE agents described conditions as 'outrageous'
May 19, 2025Eight migrants placed in converted shipping container at U.S. military base in Djibouti while awaiting appeal decisions

Sources

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