Federal judge orders Trump administration to track deported immigrants to South Sudan

A federal judge orders President Donald Trump's administration to maintain custody of deported immigrants amid legal challenges over South Sudan removals.

President Donald Trump's administration is facing a challenge to its effort to deport illegal immigrants to South Sudan. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The attorneys asked Murphy for an emergency court order to prevent the deportations. Murphy, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, previously found that any plans to deport people to Libya without notice would "clearly" violate his ruling, which also applies to people who have otherwise exhausted their legal appeals.

Murphy said in his Tuesday order that U.S. officials must appear in court on Wednesday to identify the immigrants impacted, address when and how they learned they would be removed to a third country and what opportunity they were given to raise a fear-based claim. He also ruled that the government must provide information about the whereabouts of the migrants apparently already removed.

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The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

An army soldier walks in front of the Republican Palace in Khartoum, Sudan, after it was taken over by Sudan's army on Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP Photo)

The East African country, founded in 2011, is on the verge of civil war, with escalating armed conflict, mass displacement and severe food insecurity.

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Previously, the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, suspended its operations to include visa, passport and other routine consular services on April 22, 2023.

Fox News' Alexandra Koch and The Associated Press contributed to this report

Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.

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