On Saturday, South Sudan announced it had repatriated to Mexico a man who was deported from the United States in July.
The individual, identified as Mexican citizen Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez, was one of eight people who had been held in government custody in the East African nation since their deportation from the U.S.
According to a statement from South Sudan’s foreign ministry, his return to Mexico was coordinated with the Mexican Embassy in neighboring Ethiopia.
The ministry noted that the repatriation was conducted “in full accordance with relevant international law, bilateral agreements, and established diplomatic protocols.”
Human rights organizations have criticized the Trump administration’s growing use of deportations to third countries, calling it a violation of international law and the fundamental rights of migrants.
Although U.S. courts have challenged the practice, the Supreme Court in June allowed the government to resume fast track removals of migrants to countries other than their countries of origin.
