Full Breakdown
Vietnamese Man Returns Home After U.S. Third-Country Deportation to South Sudan
6/19/2026, 11:35:15 PM
Deportation and Return of Tuan Thanh Phan
On 19 June 2026, 44-year-old Vietnamese national Tuan Thanh Phan boarded a flight from Juba International Airport and arrived in Vietnam. Phan had been transferred by the United States to South Sudan in July 2025 under a third-country deportation scheme and spent roughly a year in South Sudanese custody before his repatriation, which was coordinated by the governments of South Sudan and Vietnam.
Background: U.S. Third-Country Deportation Program
The program, launched during the Trump administration, sends individuals with final removal orders to third nations when their home governments initially refuse admission. It has been described as “hardline” and has attracted legal challenges and criticism from human-rights groups for placing deportees in countries where they have no family or legal ties.
Timeline of Key Events
- July 2025: Phan and seven other men arrive in South Sudan after weeks at a U.S. base in Djibouti.
- June 19 2026: Phan departs Juba for Vietnam following an agreement between the two governments.
Data & Statistics
- Eight men were deported to South Sudan in 2025, including nationals of Vietnam, Mexico, Cuba, Laos, Myanmar and South Sudan.
- Five foreign nationals from Cuba, Myanmar and Laos remain detained in Juba under guard.
- The broader program relocated more than 180 people to third countries worldwide.
- One Mexican national has already been repatriated; a South Sudanese citizen from the same group was released.
Why It Matters
The case illustrates the diplomatic and humanitarian complexities of the U.S. policy, highlighting concerns about transparency, detainee welfare, and the legal basis for sending individuals to nations with limited capacity to support them. It also serves as a test of bilateral cooperation between the United States, South Sudan and the deportees’ home states.
Official Statements & Responses
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said the transferred individuals had completed or were near-completion of prison sentences for serious violent crimes such as murder, sexual assault and robbery, and that the moves followed final removal orders.
- South Sudan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Agok Anyar Madut affirmed that the repatriation was jointly coordinated with Vietnam.
- Vietnam’s foreign ministry did not provide an immediate comment.
Criticism & Opposition
Human-rights advocates argue the scheme exposes deportees to uncertainty, potential danger and inadequate legal safeguards. Organizations have called for greater transparency about the agreements between the United States and receiving countries and have highlighted the lack of public information on detention conditions.
On-the-Ground Reports
Phan expressed gratitude to both governments, noting his 25-year U.S. prison term and his eagerness to reunite with family. He described his health as good and said South Sudanese authorities treated him “very disciplined, joyful, and importantly, he remained healthy.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Neither Washington nor Juba disclosed the specific terms of the arrangement that allowed South Sudan to host the deportees. Details of Phan’s U.S. conviction remain undisclosed, and the exact number of remaining deportees has not been confirmed. Vietnam’s foreign ministry has not publicly responded to inquiries.
Verbatim Quotes
- “• Phan said he was looking forward to seeing his relatives after a long separation.” — Tuan Thanh Phan
- “I thank my government, Vietnam government, for accepting me back home to my country,” — Tuan Thanh Phan
- “I’ve been in prison for 25 years and in the law if you commit a crime, they have a right to deport you back.” — Tuan Thanh Phan
- “Today, one of those deportees, with the acceptance of his country, Vietnam, is voluntarily returning home to be with his family,” — Agok Anyar Madut, South Sudan Foreign Ministry spokesperson
- “The government of our republic is working day and night to make sure that whoever has been deported to the Republic of South Sudan is going to go back to their country of origin,” — Agok Anyar Madut
- “We are grateful that while in our custody, Mr. Phan was very disciplined, joyful, and importantly, he remained healthy. We wish him a safe trip home.” — Ambassador Agok Anyar, South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
What’s Next
South Sudan has indicated ongoing efforts to repatriate the remaining foreign nationals still in its custody. Vietnam’s acceptance of Phan may pave the way for additional returns, while U.S. officials continue to face scrutiny over the legality and humanitarian impact of third-country deportations.
