Mexico accepts return of man deported to South Sudan from US

South Sudan says it has repatriated to Mexico a man deported from the United States as part of US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Saturday said Mexico had accepted the return of Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez, one of eight men deported from the US to South Sudan on July 5 after a long-running legal battle.

The statement added that Munoz-Gutierrez had been repatriated after being transferred to the custody of Mexican Ambassador Alejandro Estivill Castro in a “smooth and orderly” process.

South Sudan thanked Mexico for its cooperation and said it had received assurances Munoz-Gutierrez would not be subjected to “torture, inhumane or degrading treatment, or undue prosecution upon his return”.

The statement said he had been treated with “full respect for his human dignity and fundamental rights” during his stay in the capital, Juba.

The repatriation was carried out “in full accordance with relevant international law, bilateral agreements, and established diplomatic protocols”, it added.

In comments to journalists in Juba, Munoz-Gutierrez said he “felt kidnapped” when the US sent him to South Sudan.