South Sudan returns Vietnamese man to his country after he was deported by the United States

Written by: Ayman Ragab

South Sudanese officials said that a Vietnamese man named Tuan Thanh Van left for his country on Friday after the United States deported him to South Sudan a year ago as part of the strict immigration policies adopted by the administration of US President Donald Trump, according to Reuters.

Vietnamese deported from South Sudan

Van was among a group of migrants with criminal convictions who were transferred by US authorities to third countries last year under deportation arrangements that drew international criticism.

South Sudan's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ajok Anyar Madut, told reporters at Juba International Airport before Van boarded the plane that Van's return to his country was coordinated between the governments of South Sudan and Vietnam.

Van said he was looking forward to meeting his relatives after many years of separation, adding that he had spent 25 years in prison before being deported from the United States, without providing further details.

The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry has not yet responded to a request for comment.

South Sudan previously returned a Mexican national who had also been sent there as part of Trump's deportation program last year. At least eight people were deported from the United States to South Sudan under this program.