ICE Agents, Migrants Stranded in Shipping Container at Djibouti Base

The Trump administration deported eight migrants with prior criminal convictions to Djibouti after a federal judge barred their deportation to South Sudan, a country in conflict where they might face persecution. Instead of returning the migrants to the U.S. for further legal review, the administration housed them and 13 ICE agents in a converted shipping container at the U.S. Naval Base Camp Lemonnier under harsh conditions, including extreme heat, exposure to burn pits, and threats of rocket attacks from Yemen. Both migrants and ICE personnel have suffered illness, including suspected bacterial infections, and face risks such as malaria without proper preventive measures. ICE officials argued that the judge's ruling forced their decision, but court transcripts indicate the administration requested this arrangement. The situation has drawn criticism for its humanitarian implications and for the Trump administration's approach to immigration enforcement, which has frequently clashed with judicial rulings. The detainees come from diverse countries including Cuba, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, and Mexico, and have been held since late May under these precarious conditions.