Judge Accuses DHS of Violating Court Order by Sending Non-African Illegal Aliens to South Sudan
In a sharply worded ruling issued Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy, a Biden-appointed federal judge based in Boston, accused the Trump administration of violating a court order when it deported seven illegal aliens to South Sudan — despite some of them not being from Africa at all, including individuals from Laos, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Murphy claimed that the Trump administration had “unquestionably” defied his order, which required that immigration officials provide the deportees with “meaningful due process” before removing them to a third-party country where they could allegedly face violence and persecution.
“It was impossible for these people to have a meaningful opportunity to object to their transfer to South Sudan,” Judge Murphy wrote, suggesting DHS may have committed criminal contempt, though he stopped short of issuing sanctions — for now.
DHS Fires Back: “Sudan Was the Only Country That Would Take Them”
The ruling has triggered a furious backlash from within the Department of Homeland Security, which defended its actions as a national security necessity in the face of a broken immigration system and foreign nations unwilling to take back their criminals.
DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin blasted the ruling, accusing Judge Murphy of overreach:
“A district judge is now trying to dictate the United States’ foreign policy, national security, and immigration enforcement strategies. It’s outrageous.”
ICE Director Todd Lyons echoed that sentiment, revealing that the seven deportees were so dangerous that even their home countries refused to take them back — making South Sudan the only nation willing to accept them.
“These are criminals whose crimes were so severe that countries wouldn’t even take back their own citizens. Sudan stepped up — and now we’re being punished for removing threats to public safety.”
Judicial Overreach or Lawless Executive?
The battle between Judge Murphy and DHS highlights the deepening rift between unelected federal judges and executive immigration enforcement — a crisis now playing out in full public view.
Murphy’s ruling marks the second time in recent weeks he has inserted himself into high-stakes immigration decisions. Earlier this month, he threatened Trump officials with criminal sanctions over similar deportation efforts — including warning that pilots involved in deportations could face criminal prosecution.
Critics argue Murphy is weaponizing the judiciary to undermine the Trump administration’s effort to restore law and order and protect the American public from violent foreign nationals who slipped through under Biden’s open-border policies.
What Happens Next?
While no criminal contempt charges have yet been filed, Murphy’s warning signals potential future action against Trump-era DHS officials — a move that could spark constitutional questions about separation of powers and the authority of federal courts in foreign affairs.
For now, Trump allies are standing firm, calling the judge’s ruling a dangerous attempt to turn America into a sanctuary for the world’s most dangerous criminals.
“This isn’t about law — it’s about ideology,” one senior DHS official said. “And it’s endangering American lives.”
