South Sudan says Mexico offers assurances its nationwide deported by the US in July wouldn’t face torture or different inhumane therapy.
Printed On 6 Sep 2025
South Sudan says it has repatriated to Mexico a man deported from america as a part of US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration.
The Ministry of International Affairs and Worldwide Cooperation on Saturday mentioned Mexico had accepted the return of Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez, one in every of eight males deported from the US to South Sudan on July 5 after a long-running authorized battle.
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The assertion added that Munoz-Gutierrez had been repatriated after being transferred to the custody of Mexican Ambassador Alejandro Estivill Castro in a “clean and orderly” course of.
South Sudan thanked Mexico for its cooperation and mentioned it had obtained assurances Munoz-Gutierrez wouldn’t be subjected to “torture, inhumane or degrading therapy, or undue prosecution upon his return”.
The assertion mentioned he had been handled with “full respect for his human dignity and elementary rights” throughout his keep within the capital, Juba.
The repatriation was carried out “in full accordance with related worldwide legislation, bilateral agreements, and established diplomatic protocols”, it added.
‘Felt kidnapped’
In feedback to journalists in Juba, Munoz-Gutierrez mentioned he “felt kidnapped” when the US despatched him to South Sudan.
“I used to be not planning to return to South Sudan, however whereas I used to be right here, they handled me nicely,” he mentioned. “I completed my time in america, and so they have been purported to return me to Mexico. As an alternative, they wrongfully despatched me to South Sudan.”
The US Division of Homeland Safety has mentioned Munoz-Gutierrez had a conviction for second-degree homicide and was sentenced to life in jail.
South Sudan is discussing with different nations the repatriation of the six deportees nonetheless in its custody, mentioned Apuk Ayuel Mayen, a spokeswoman for the International Ministry.
It isn’t clear if the deportees have entry to authorized illustration. Solely one in every of eight was from South Sudan.
Rights teams have argued that the Trump administration’s increasing practice of deporting migrants to 3rd nations violates worldwide legislation and the fundamental rights of migrants.
The deportations have confronted opposition by courts within the US though the Supreme Court docket in June allowed the federal government to restart swift removals of migrants to nations apart from their homelands.
Different African nations receiving deportees from the US embrace Uganda, Eswatini and Rwanda. Eswatini obtained 5 males with legal backgrounds in July.
Rwanda introduced the arrival of a gaggle of seven deportees in mid-August.
