The U.S. government is attempting to deport eight migrants convicted of serious crimes, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The individuals, hailing from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Vietnam, and South Sudan, were convicted of offences including murder and armed robbery.
During a press conference, a Homeland Security official described the group as “barbaric, violent individuals illegally in the United States.”
Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said the deportation flight departed Texas and was intended to remove “monsters” from U.S. soil.
However, the flight sparked legal backlash after U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy intervened to halt the migrants’ release overseas.
On Tuesday, Judge Murphy ordered that the eight not be allowed to leave immigration custody, citing concerns over a potential violation of a standing court order.
Though the court raised allegations that the group was being flown to South Sudan, officials declined to confirm the final destination.
The Department of Homeland Security did not clarify whether the removal attempt violated judicial directives, nor did it acknowledge the specific countries involved.
The episode underscores growing tensions between federal enforcement policies and judicial oversight under the Trump administration.
It also raises fresh questions about international deportation practices, especially to conflict-affected nations such as South Sudan.
For now, the fate of the eight men remains uncertain, suspended between deportation orders and legal restraint.