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.
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.