A Vietnamese man sent back to South Sudan heads home after a controversial U. S. deportation

A man originally from Vietnam, who was forcibly returned from the U. S. to South Sudan last year, left the country on Friday bound for Hanoi. His journey marks the end of a contentious policy that moved foreign nationals with past convictions to third countries, often far from where they had lived. Under that approach, Washington sent at least eight people to South Sudan alone during the previous administration, a move that drew sharp criticism from human-rights groups. When he spoke to reporters at Juba’s airport just before boarding his flight home, the traveler—identified as Tuan Thanh Phan—said his biggest hope was reuniting with family after years apart. According to his brief statement, he spent more than two decades behind bars before the U. S. sent him overseas, though he gave no further details about his case. South Sudanese officials confirmed the transfer was arranged jointly by their government and Vietnam’s, suggesting some level of coordination beyond typical deportation channels.The repatriation throws a spotlight on an unusual chapter of U. S. immigration enforcement, one that sidestepped usual destination countries like Mexico or nearby Caribbean islands. South Sudan, already coping with its own challenges, has now received deportees from at least two different continents under the same policy. Observers point out that sending individuals to nations with limited infrastructure or weak diplomatic ties can create fresh sets of problems for everyone involved. Vietnam’s foreign ministry chose not to comment when asked for an official response about Phan’s arrival back in the country, leaving open questions about any support or reintegration measures planned for him.