South Sudan returned a Mexican national, identified as Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez, to Mexico after he was deported from the United States in July, the South Sudanese foreign ministry said in a statement on . The transfer was coordinated with Mexico’s embassy based in Ethiopia and followed diplomatic arrangements between the two governments.
Key Takeaways
- South Sudan repatriated Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez to Mexico after his July deportation from the U.S.
- The man was one of eight foreign nationals sent to South Sudan in July 2025.
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says Munoz-Gutierrez was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life.
- South Sudan says the return complied with international law and diplomatic protocols and worked with Mexico’s embassy in Ethiopia.
- Rights groups have criticized the U.S. practice of sending migrants to third countries, citing legal and humanitarian concerns.
- The U.S. Supreme Court in June 2025 allowed the government to resume rapid removals to countries other than migrants’ home states.
- Other countries reported to have accepted U.S. deportees include Uganda, Eswatini and Rwanda.
Verified Facts
According to the South Sudanese foreign ministry, the repatriation of Munoz-Gutierrez was completed on or before September 6, 2025. South Sudan said the move was executed in coordination with the Mexican Embassy in Ethiopia. The ministry characterized the process as following the applicable diplomatic and legal frameworks.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has publicly stated that Munoz-Gutierrez was convicted in the United States of second-degree murder and received a life sentence. He was among eight men who arrived in South Sudan after legal challenges in U.S. courts over the government’s use of third-country deportations.
Officials and public records identify the other deportees as nationals of Cuba, Laos, Myanmar, Sudan and Vietnam. U.S. authorities said the group had been convicted of serious crimes including murder, homicide, sexual assault, lascivious acts with a child and robbery.
South Sudan’s statement emphasized diplomatic coordination but provided limited detail on the logistics of the transfers or the immediate status of the other deportees still in the country.
Context & Impact
The transfers are part of a broader U.S. policy shift that sought to persuade countries, regardless of human rights records, to accept noncitizen deportees. The Trump administration framed such agreements as a way to reduce irregular migration and the burden on U.S. detention facilities.
Rights organizations and some U.S. courts have challenged the practice. Opponents argue third-country removals can violate international refugee obligations and deny migrants access to effective legal review. Supporters say the policy is lawful when implemented with diplomatic cooperation.
- Eswatini received five deportees with criminal records in July 2025.
- Rwanda reported receiving seven deportees in mid-August 2025.
- Uganda has also been named as a destination for U.S. removals under the same policy approach.
Official Statements
“The transfer was conducted in line with international law and established diplomatic protocols,”
South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (statement)
Unconfirmed
- Whether Munoz-Gutierrez and the other deportees had access to legal counsel while in South Sudan has not been independently verified.
- Detailed logistics of how the repatriation was carried out, including dates of travel and transit points, were not disclosed in the South Sudan statement.
- The current locations and legal status of the remaining deportees in South Sudan were not specified.
Bottom Line
The return of Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez to Mexico underscores a controversial U.S. policy of sending certain convicted noncitizens to third countries. While governments involved describe the transfers as lawful and diplomatic, rights groups and courts have raised persistent concerns about legal protections and humanitarian outcomes. The episode is likely to fuel further legal and diplomatic scrutiny as similar removals continue.