An explosive investigation by The Intercept has revealed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials have been deceiving and mistreating men from South Sudan who were seeking asylum in the United States. These men were promised to be flown to Louisiana, but instead, they were secretly flown to their home country of South Sudan, a war-torn nation that they had fled in fear for their lives.
The story of these men, who have been identified only by their initials to protect their safety, is a harrowing tale of betrayal and abuse at the hands of the very authorities who were supposed to protect them. They were part of a group of 200 people who were arrested by ICE in early December 2019, as part of a crackdown on immigrants with criminal records. However, these men were not criminals. They were victims of violence and persecution in their home country and had come to the US seeking refuge. But instead of being given a fair chance to seek asylum, they were subjected to a cruel and deceptive scheme by ICE.
According to the report, the men were told that they were being flown to Louisiana, where they would be processed and given the opportunity to apply for asylum. However, to their shock and horror, their flight landed in Africa, specifically in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. The men were then taken to a hotel where they were held for several days before being returned to the airport and flown back to the United States. This time, they were flown to a detention center in Louisiana, where they were held for three months before being deported back to South Sudan.
The Intercept’s investigation has uncovered that ICE officials had blatantly lied to the men about their destination. They were not given any information about the flight until they were already on the plane, and even then, they were not told the true destination. The men were also not given any opportunity to make a phone call or contact their families to inform them of their whereabouts. The only reason they found out where they were being taken was when they overheard a conversation between the pilot and a crew member.
These deceptive and cruel actions by ICE officials have left the men traumatized and vulnerable. Many of them were afraid to return to South Sudan, where they could face further violence and persecution. One of the men, identified as N.J., had his father killed by government soldiers and was himself beaten and imprisoned for his political activities. He had fled to the US seeking safety, but instead, he was deceived and sent back to the very place he feared.
The actions of ICE officials not only violate the rights of these men but also go against international law. The principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of individuals to a country where they may face persecution, is a fundamental principle of international law. By deporting these men to South Sudan, ICE officials have violated this principle and put the lives of these men at risk.
Furthermore, the investigation has also revealed that ICE officials had been aware of the danger these men faced in their home country. Prior to the flight, they had received a warning from the United Nations that South Sudan was not a safe country for these men to return to. Yet, they chose to ignore this warning and proceeded with their deceptive plan.
The Intercept’s investigation has also brought to light the inhumane conditions that these men were subjected to during their detention in Louisiana. They were kept in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, with limited access to medical care and legal assistance. Many of them were also put in solitary confinement as punishment for protesting their treatment.
The men have now been released from detention and are living in the US while their asylum cases are being reviewed. But the trauma and fear they have experienced will stay with them for a long time. The actions of ICE officials have not only violated their rights but have also shattered their trust in the US immigration system.
It is imperative that there is accountability for these deceptive and inhumane actions by ICE officials. The government must launch a thorough investigation into this matter and hold those responsible accountable. The men who were deceived and mistreated deserve justice, and the American people deserve to know the truth about what happened.
This investigation by The Intercept has shed light on the injustices faced by immigrants in the US and the need for systemic change. It is a reminder that the immigration system is broken and in dire need of reform. We must demand that our government treats all individuals, regardless of their immigration status, with dignity and respect.
In these
