South Sudan sends ‘wrongfully’ deported Mexican home

[John Ashworth]

South Sudan sends ‘wrongfully’ deported Mexican home

Radio Tamazuj
September 6, 2025 JUBA

A Mexican national who was wrongfully deported from the United States
to South Sudan in July was repatriated Saturday, South Sudanese and
Mexican officials said.

Jesús Muñoz Gutiérrez was one of eight individuals deported to South
Sudan on July 5. Only one of them, officials said, is a South Sudanese
citizen. The others are nationals of Mexico, Cuba, Myanmar, Vietnam,
and Laos.

“I want to say thank you for treating me well. God bless South Sudan,”
Gutiérrez told reporters at Juba International Airport before boarding
a flight home. “I will come soon to visit South Sudan again — very
beautiful people here.”

Gutiérrez also criticized U.S. authorities for mishandling his case.

“I finished my time in the United States. They were supposed to send
me back to Mexico, but they did it wrong and sent me to South Sudan,”
he said. “Basically, they kidnapped me.”

At a press conference held at the airport, South Sudan’s Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation confirmed that
Gutiérrez’s repatriation was coordinated in partnership with the
Mexican government.

Ambassador Apuk Ayuel Mayen, spokesperson for the ministry, said
Gutiérrez’s case was resolved in less than two months and highlighted
ongoing efforts to repatriate the remaining six third-country
nationals.

“We are here today to witness the repatriation of one of the seven
third-country nationals who were deported from the United States,” she
said. “This is an important day because it demonstrates South Sudan’s
commitment to working with partner governments to ensure all deportees
are safely reunited with their families.”

Mayen said Juba is prepared to facilitate similar processes for the other six.

“We appreciate the initiative taken by Mexico to initiate the contact
that led to today’s departure,” she said.

Jesús Muñoz Gutiérrez boards a plane to return to Mexico after being
deported to South Sudan, at Juba International Airport, September 6,
2025.

Mexican Ambassador-designate to South Sudan Alejandro Estivill Castro
accompanied Gutiérrez on his return journey.

“We worked very closely with the government of South Sudan to complete
the proper documentation and all necessary procedures,” Estivill said.
“This is a successful story, and we are sure it will strengthen
bilateral relations between Mexico and South Sudan.”

The ambassador praised South Sudanese authorities for treating
Gutiérrez with dignity.

“We are thankful to the authorities of South Sudan for ensuring
respect for human rights and good treatment for Mr. Gutiérrez during
his stay,” he said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it will continue working with
other governments to facilitate the return of the remaining six
deportees.

In July, South Sudan’s government defended its decision to receive the
deportees, including one South Sudanese citizen, amid domestic
criticism over a lack of transparency in its agreement with the United
States.

The individuals had been convicted of crimes including murder, sexual
assault and robbery, and had either completed or were nearing the end
of their prison sentences.

The deportees include Enrique Arias-Hierro and José Manuel
Rodríguez-Quiñones of Cuba; Thongxay Nilakout of Laos; Jesús Muñoz
Gutiérrez of Mexico; Dian Peter Domach of South Sudan; Kyaw Mya and
Nyo Myint of Myanmar; and Tuan Thanh Phan of Vietnam. U.S. officials
said most of their home countries had refused to accept them.

The deportations followed a late June U.S. Supreme Court ruling
permitting the removal of noncitizens with criminal records, even if
their countries of origin decline to receive them.

https://www.radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/south-sudan-sends-wrongfully-wrongfully-deported-mexican-home

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