Deportee from Third-Country Program Repatriated to Vietnam After Year in South Sudan
A Vietnamese national deported by the Trump administration under its third-country deportation program has been returned to his home country after more than a year in detention abroad.
Tuan Phan was repatriated to Vietnam on Friday, following his deportation to South Sudan in 2025 as part of a controversial U.S. policy to send non-citizen deportees to third countries.
Repatriation Announced by South Sudan
South Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Phan's repatriation during a press briefing. Spokesperson Agok Anyar stated that Phan was disciplined, joyful, and remained healthy during custody.
Phan was among eight men sent to Africa in May 2025. Their flights were rerouted to a U.S. military base in Djibouti mid-journey after a federal judge blocked their deportation to South Sudan, citing procedural irregularities. They ultimately arrived in Juba in July 2025 following a Supreme Court ruling that permitted their removal.
All eight men had criminal convictions in the U.S. but had served their prison sentences before being taken into custody.
A Wider Program Draws Scrutiny
At least seven African countries have agreed to accept deportees who are not their own citizens as part of arrangements with the U.S., which has agreed to pay millions to those governments. According to Third Country Deportation Watch, over 180 people have been sent to these countries.
The choice of South Sudan as a receiving nation drew sharp criticism due to the country's poor human rights record, widespread corruption, and ongoing instability. Armed conflict displaced over half a million people in 2025 alone, according to the United Nations.
Fate of the Other Deportees
Phan is the second in the group to be repatriated. Jesus Munõz-Gutierrez was flown to Mexico in September 2025. Dian Peter Domach, the only South Sudanese national among the eight, was released upon arrival in Juba. The remaining men are from Cuba, Myanmar, and Laos.
Phan's Background
Phan moved to the United States as a child in 1991. In 2000, at age 18, he received a 25-year prison sentence for shooting and killing someone during a gang altercation. His removal order was issued in 2009, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took him into custody after his sentence ended in March 2025.
Conditions in Custody
In Juba, the deportees were held in a gated house under armed guard, according to a U.S. Senate report. A congressional aide who visited Juba last year was the first non-South Sudanese official to visit them.
Michael Bochenek of Human Rights Watch commented that the lack of visits raises concerns about compliance with human rights norms.
Agreement Details Remain Murky
The specifics of the U.S.-South Sudan agreement remain unclear. State Department documents show South Sudan requested sanctions relief and support for prosecuting an opposition leader. It is not known what payment or considerations South Sudan received for agreeing to accept deportees who are not its own citizens.