A federal judge just dropped a legal bombshell on the Trump administration’s deportation playbook. U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy unleashed a 17-page order over the Memorial Day period, tearing into the government for what he calls a blatant disregard for due process in attempting to deport eight men to the volatile region of South Sudan.
Newsmax reported that this saga centers on eight migrants with criminal histories, caught in a legal tug-of-war as the Trump administration pushes its hard-line stance on mass deportations, only to be halted by judicial oversight.
These eight men, all with prior convictions for violent offenses, were detained in Djibouti during proceedings, far from U.S. soil.
The administration, eager to execute removal agreements with nations like Costa Rica and Guatemala, aimed to send them to conflict zones such as South Sudan and Libya—areas the U.S. State Department itself flags as high-risk.
One deportee hails from South Sudan, another faces return to Myanmar, while the remaining six linger in legal limbo with no clear destination. Of course, anywhere but the U.S. is ideal as far as the Trump administration is concerned.
Enter Judge Murphy, who didn’t mince words in his critique of the government’s haste. His order highlights how these migrants received less than 24 hours’ notice before deportation—some as little as 16 hours—violating a directive for at least 15 days’ notice in a language they understand.
During a hearing on a recent Wednesday, Murphy concluded the administration had ignored basic protocols, denying these individuals a fair shot to contest their removal.
He previously ordered that six of the eight be given “reasonable fear interviews” to express concerns about persecution or torture if sent to South Sudan. It’s a procedural lifeline, even for those with rap sheets.
Judge Murphy’s 17-page order, issued around the time of Memorial Day observances, didn’t just slap wrists—it issued a preliminary injunction.
This mandates proper notice and opportunities for migrants to raise fears of persecution before being shipped off to third countries, not just their homelands. It’s a class action lawsuit, meaning this ruling could ripple far beyond these eight cases.
Murphy quipped, “It turns out that having immigration proceedings on another continent is harder and more logistically cumbersome than defendants anticipated.” Ouch—that’s a polite way of saying the government bit off more than it could chew. If remote hearings flop, the judge says the feds can bring these men back to U.S. soil, though that’s unlikely given their criminal histories.
The judge didn’t stop at logistics; he underscored the stakes, stating, “The Court further finds that the class members at issue were, and continue to be, at risk of irreparable harm in the absence of injunctive relief.”
He drove the point home: “Here, that risk becomes tangible as class members were nearly dropped off in a war-torn country.” Even Department of Homeland Security officials, defending the moves by citing criminal records, couldn’t dodge the court’s emphasis on legal standards.
Murphy acknowledged the elephant in the room, noting, “The Court recognizes that the class members at issue here have criminal histories.”
But he quickly added, “That does not change due process.” For conservatives like us, it’s a bitter pill—actions have consequences, but so does ignoring the Constitution.
The Trump administration now faces a choice: conduct fear interviews abroad to assess claims of political persecution or risk further judicial smackdowns. Returning deportees to the U.S. for compliance isn’t likely on the table, especially with serious offenses in their pasts. It’s a tightrope walk between security and rights.
Meanwhile, President Trump, speaking at the 157th National Memorial Day Observance at Arlington National Cemetery, didn’t directly address this case but has vented frustration over judicial overreach.
On Truth Social, he blasted, “The Judges are absolutely out of control.” It’s classic Trump—unfiltered and fed up, though one wonders if this ruling might fuel more than just a post.