Washington: The Trump administration has approached the Supreme Court to intervene in a legal dispute concerning its authority to deport non-citizens to South Sudan. This request follows a ruling by US District Judge Brian Murphy, which imposes restrictions on the government's deportation process.

According to Anadolu Agency, Judge Murphy's decision mandates that individuals facing deportation must first be granted a "meaningful opportunity" to contest their removal to third countries where they might encounter danger. This ruling came amidst efforts by the US government to deport eight men, seven of whom are not South Sudanese citizens, to South Sudan.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer contends that current immigration law provides the executive branch with broad powers to deport individuals to countries willing to accept them. Sauer argues that Judge Murphy's order oversteps these powers and disrupts essential "diplomatic, foreign-policy, and national-security efforts."

The legal challenge originated from the government's attempt to deport the men, with Murphy stipulating that deportees must be interviewed with attorneys and interpreters present. Additionally, the judge requires three days' notice before interviews and 15 days for deportees to contest their transfer to a third country.

The Trump administration criticized the ruling as burdensome, particularly highlighting the logistical challenges of detaining deportees "mid-flight" and subsequently holding them at a military base in Djibouti, which is not equipped for such purposes. The Department of Homeland Security has described the deportations as part of a broader "diplomatic and military security operation," noting that the individuals have serious criminal records.

This case is part of a broader wave of litigation targeting the Trump administration's immigration policies. President Trump and his supporters have labeled Judge Murphy an "activist judge" for his rulings that challenge the administration's stance on immigration.