Sat Sep 06 21:02:08 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Following a controversial deportation from the US to South Sudan, Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez has been repatriated to Mexico. South Sudan received assurances from Mexico that he would not face torture or inhumane treatment upon his return. Munoz-Gutierrez, who claims he was wrongfully sent to South Sudan, acknowledged being treated well while there. The deportation was part of a larger US effort to deport migrants to third countries, a practice that has drawn criticism from human rights groups and legal challenges. South Sudan is currently working to repatriate the remaining six deportees in its custody.
**News Article:**
**South Sudan Transfers US Deportee to Mexico After Assurances of Humane Treatment**
**JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN** – Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez, one of eight men controversially deported from the United States to South Sudan last month, has been successfully repatriated to Mexico. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of South Sudan confirmed the transfer, stating that Mexican Ambassador Alejandro Estivill Castro took custody of Munoz-Gutierrez in Juba.
The move comes after South Sudan received assurances from the Mexican government that Munoz-Gutierrez would not be subjected to torture, inhumane treatment, or undue prosecution upon his return. The South Sudanese government emphasized that Munoz-Gutierrez was treated with respect for his human dignity during his stay in Juba.
Munoz-Gutierrez, speaking to reporters in Juba, stated he felt “kidnapped” when the US sent him to South Sudan, asserting he should have been returned to Mexico. Despite his initial shock, he acknowledged being treated well while in South Sudan.
The US Department of Homeland Security maintains that Munoz-Gutierrez had a conviction for second-degree murder and a life sentence.
The deportation of Munoz-Gutierrez and seven others to South Sudan sparked controversy, as only one of the deportees was actually from the country. Rights groups have criticized the Trump administration’s increasing use of deportations to third countries, arguing it violates international law and the basic rights of migrants. While facing legal challenges, the US Supreme Court recently allowed the government to resume swift removals of migrants to countries other than their homelands.
South Sudan is currently in discussions with other countries to arrange the repatriation of the remaining six deportees in its custody. Other African nations, including Uganda, Eswatini, and Rwanda, have also received deportees from the US.
The situation raises concerns about the potential for human rights abuses and the ethical implications of deporting individuals to countries with which they have no connection.