Attempt to deport migrants to South Sudan violates US court order - judge

A US federal judge has ruled that the Department of Homeland Security's attempt to deport migrants to South Sudan was "unquestionably violative" of an injunction he had previously issued.

- Maya Yang

Brian E Murphy, the US district judge in Massachusetts, made the remark at an emergency hearing he had ordered in Boston after the Trump administration seemingly deported eight people to South Sudan even though most of them were from other countries.

Late on Tuesday, Murphy had ruled that the administration could not let a group of migrants being deported to South Sudan leave the custody of US immigration authorities.

In his order, Murphy wrote: "While the court leaves the practicalities of compliance to defendants' discretion... the court expects that class members will be treated humanely."

Last month, Murphy issued an injunction that required any people being deported to a third country to receive due process.

After reports emerged about the apparent South Sudan flight, the judge told Elianis Perez, a justice department lawyer: "I have a strong indication that my preliminary injunction order has been violated."