Jayapal Statement on the Attempted Deportation of Immigrants to South Sudan

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, released the following statement regarding the attempted deportation of immigrants to South Sudan. 

“Any person convicted of serious crimes should be held accountable, and we have laws to govern that, including due process, which the Trump Administration has been violating. It is exactly for this reason that the courts have consistently blocked the Trump Administration from deporting immigrants to third-party countries, where they then claim they cannot get them back to obey the courts.

“And yet, again in violation of these court orders, the Trump Administration just unlawfully deported immigrants, attempting to send them to South Sudan, a country that the U.S. State Department currently has a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning for. It is extremely reprehensible to send immigrants to such a dangerous country, with armed conflict, rampant violent crime, and political and ethnic turmoil. Just two weeks ago, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for South Sudan, further acknowledging how dangerous the country currently is. 

“If the Trump Administration can disobey court orders for immigrants and send them into active war zones, who will be next — lawful permanent residents who use their free speech in a way this administration disagrees with? U.S. citizens who break the law? Trump’s political enemies? 

“Donald Trump is not a king. He is not above the law. He must obey the courts, full stop, and stop deporting immigrants in violation of their rights and the law.”

Issues: Immigration