A federal judge ruled late Tuesday that U.S. officials must retain custody and control of migrants apparently removed to South Sudan in case he orders their removals were unlawful.

The Department of Homeland Security defended its removal of the migrants in a sharply worded statement, calling court proceedings challenging the deportations “absurd”

A federal judge has ordered US officials to keep custody of immigrants deported to South Sudan, due to possible violations of a court order. Judge Brian E. Murphy made the ruling after claims that the US deported people from Myanmar and Vietnam to South Sudan,

Immigration attorneys say the Trump administration appears to have begun deporting people from Myanmar and Vietnam to South Sudan despite a court order restricting removals to other countries