Vietnamese National Returns Home After Lengthy Detention in South Sudan
A Vietnamese citizen, Tuan Phan, has been repatriated to Vietnam after over a year in detention in South Sudan. His deportation was part of the United States’ controversial third-country deportation program initiated under the Trump administration.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in South Sudan confirmed Phan’s repatriation during a press conference on Friday. Spokesperson Agok Anyar remarked, “We are grateful that while in our custody Mr. Phan was very disciplined, joyful, and importantly, he remained healthy.”
In May 2025, Phan, along with seven other men, was redirected to a U.S. military base in Djibouti after a federal judge halted their deportation to South Sudan citing procedural issues. The group eventually reached Juba, the capital of South Sudan, in July 2025 following a Supreme Court decision that allowed their removal.
All eight men had criminal records in the United States but had completed their sentences before being detained last year. More than 180 individuals have been deported to various countries under this program, as reported by Third Country Deportation Watch.
The selection of South Sudan as a destination has sparked controversy due to its poor human rights record, corruption, and political instability. The United Nations reported that armed conflict in 2025 displaced more than half a million people.
Phan is the second individual from the group to be returned to their home country, following Jesus Munõz-Gutierrez’s repatriation to Mexico in September. The group also included individuals from Cuba, Myanmar, and Laos, with one South Sudanese national, Dian Peter Domach, released upon arrival.
Tuan Phan, who moved to the United States in 1991, was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2000 for a gang-related shooting. His deportation was ordered in 2009, and he was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after completing his sentence in March 2025.
According to a U.S. Senate report, the deportees were housed under armed supervision in Juba. A congressional aide who visited them last year was the first non-South Sudanese to do so. Michael Bochenek of Human Rights Watch noted the lack of independent oversight, raising concerns about compliance with human rights standards.
Details concerning agreements between the U.S. and other countries, including South Sudan, remain unclear. Publicly available State Department documents indicate that South Sudan requested specific concessions from the U.S., such as sanctions relief and legal support, after agreeing to accept the deportees.
