Trump’s ‘third country’ deportation plan already underway as migrants dumped in South Sudan via shipping container detention

The Trump administration has started a new deportation strategy that marks a big shift in U.S. immigration policy. The plan involves sending migrants to countries where they have no citizenship or prior connections.

According to The Washington Post, this new approach represents a major change for the United States, where such deportation practices have been uncommon until now. While this type of policy is rare in American history, other nations have attempted similar deportation methods in the past.

The plan is already in action, as eight men were recently transported to South Sudan through Djibouti. During their journey, these migrants were held “in a metal shipping container at a naval base” for several weeks before reaching their final destination. What makes this case particularly notable is that seven out of the eight deported individuals had no previous ties to South Sudan.

How the new third-country deportation system works

The administration’s new deportation strategy involves sending migrants to what they call “third countries,” meaning nations where the migrants are not citizens. This approach is part of broader ICE enforcement expansion that now includes new grounds for deportation. Also, this approach differs from traditional deportation practices, where individuals are usually sent back to their countries of origin.

This policy shift has raised concerns among immigration experts and human rights organizations, as it involves sending people to unfamiliar countries where they may lack support systems, language skills, or cultural understanding. These concerns have intensified as ICE operations have expanded to target various communities, including religious sanctuaries. The practice of holding migrants in temporary facilities, such as the shipping container used in Djibouti, has also drawn attention to the conditions these individuals face during the deportation process.

The South Sudan case serves as the first documented example of this new policy in action, demonstrating how the administration plans to implement these third-country deportations. The fact that most of the deported individuals had no connection to their destination country highlights the significant changes in U.S. deportation practices.

While the administration moves forward with this new approach, questions remain about the long-term implications of sending migrants to countries where they have no established ties or legal status. The policy continues to develop as more cases emerge, showing how the U.S. immigration system is undergoing substantial changes under the current administration.