Recently, U.S. immigration authorities deported two Cuban nationals with serious criminal records as part of a contentious repatriation operation to South Sudan, a nation with which the United States lacks formal immigration agreements. This action, organized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), involved eight foreign individuals convicted of violent crimes, including murder, sexual assault, and kidnapping, as confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and journalists like Bill Melugin from Fox News.
The Cuban citizens on the flight were identified as Enrique Arias-Hierro and José Manuel Rodríguez-Quiñones. The DHS released a brief report stating that Arias-Hierro was taken into custody by ICE on May 2, 2025. His criminal record includes convictions for homicide, armed robbery, impersonating a public official, kidnapping, and burglary. Rodríguez-Quiñones, on the other hand, was arrested on April 30, with convictions for attempted first-degree murder with a weapon, physical assault, theft, and trafficking in canine animals. Both were considered by ICE to be individuals who "pose significant threats to national and public safety."
Despite just one of the eight deported individuals being originally from South Sudan, the flight departed Texas with the African country as its final destination. Authorities explained that utilizing "third countries" is a strategy employed when nations of origin, like Cuba, refuse to accept their citizens back.
"With President Trump and under Secretary Noem's direction, we can now prevent these predators from having more victims in the United States," stated Todd Lyons, acting director of ICE. Lyons emphasized that after years of facing resistance from uncooperative countries, the administration has opted for alternative deportation methods to remove high-risk immigrants from the U.S.
The flight has ignited controversy. A federal judge in Boston ordered the deportees to remain in custody while evaluating whether the deportation violated a prior court order intended to protect their procedural rights. Additionally, this case is part of a growing trend of deportations to third countries under the "Safe Third Country" doctrine, a policy strengthened by the Trump administration. Earlier this year, the U.S. signed a similar agreement with El Salvador, involving the relocation of immigrants of various nationalities, including convicted criminals.
These decisions have faced opposition from the judiciary and human rights organizations, which question the legality and ethics of sending individuals to countries with high instability and violence levels. The deportation of Cubans to a nation with which they have no direct ties, and in the case of South Sudan, one of the world's most unstable countries, has rekindled the debate over laws like the Alien Enemies Act, invoked to justify expulsions without standard immigration processes.
The U.S. Supreme Court has partially blocked this practice amidst increasing complaints about the lack of transparency and violation of fundamental rights in these operations. This Thursday, ICE announced the arrest of another Cuban in a raid in Texas, claiming that he also has a criminal background.
Key Questions About U.S. Deportations and Third Country Practices
Why were the Cuban nationals deported to South Sudan?
The Cuban nationals were deported to South Sudan due to a lack of formal immigration agreements with their home country, Cuba, and as part of a strategy to use third countries when nations of origin refuse to accept their citizens back.
What crimes were the deported Cuban nationals convicted of?
Enrique Arias-Hierro was convicted of homicide, armed robbery, impersonating a public official, kidnapping, and burglary. José Manuel Rodríguez-Quiñones was convicted of attempted first-degree murder with a weapon, assault, theft, and trafficking in canine animals.
What is the "Safe Third Country" doctrine?
The "Safe Third Country" doctrine is a policy that involves sending deported individuals to third countries deemed safe, even if they have no direct ties, as a way to manage immigration challenges when the home country refuses repatriation.