Concerns Over ICE Officers in Djibouti

WASHINGTON – Three officers from Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) found themselves in Djibouti, alongside eight serious offenders, all living under what can only be described as “outrageous” conditions. There’s also growing concern about potential rocket attacks from Yemen after a federal judge intervened to halt the deportation of certain prisoners to South Sudan.

The group of eight includes individuals found guilty of severe crimes such as murder, sexual assault on minors, robbery, and arson. They are currently being detained in a shipping container located at Connex, a US Navy facility in the region, under the surveillance of ICE teams.

Pentagon authorities warned ICE prior to their arrival that the area could be a target for rocket attacks from Houthi militants operating across the Red Sea in Yemen. However, the officers are also dealing with hazardous fumes from nearby burn sites used for waste disposal, which is another alarming concern.

The situation escalated after US District Judge Brian Murphy issued an order in late May, leading to the grounding of a flight that was supposed to bring these immigrants back to East Africa, all while ignoring the requirement for anti-malarial medication.

One officer from the Department of Homeland Security shared, “I started feeling unwell within 72 hours of arriving in Djibouti.” Although they eventually managed to procure some limited anti-malarial medications, the initial lack was troubling.

Additionally, ICE officers are the only federal personnel responsible for accompanying these immigrants to the restrooms and conducting checks for weapons or smuggling attempts. The harsh conditions mean they are often forced to be released by teams that have to keep them under close supervision.

“It’s outrageous for this judge to put the health and safety of law enforcement officers at risk for criminals,” a source from the DHS remarked.

Judge Murphy, appointed during Biden’s term, had mandated that a flight land on May 22, despite the Trump administration claiming it was in violation of a previous court ruling that halted removals of immigrants from countries where they are not originally from.

He also mandated that each immigrant receive documentation regarding their deportation, ensuring that they had the chance to contest it.

Interestingly, of the eight migrants, only one hailed from the war-torn South Sudan, while the others were from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

Previously, administration officials argued that other nations were reluctant to accept these individuals due to the severity of their crimes, which were deemed “monstrous and wild.”

The eight immigrants left in limbo by ICE include:

• Enrique Arias Hiero, a Cuban citizen, was convicted in 1999 of second-degree murder and attempted robbery, later found guilty in 2007 of additional crimes including impersonating a police officer.
• Jose Manuel Rodriguez Quinones, another Cuban, was convicted in 2008 of arson and drug trafficking, and later sentenced for attempted murder.
• Thongxay Nilakout, a Lao national, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering a German tourist in California.
• Jesus Munoz Gutierrez, a Mexican citizen, received a 25-year sentence for second-degree murder in 2005.
• Kyo Mia of Myanmar was convicted for repeated sexual assault on a minor, receiving a 10-year sentence.
• NYO Myint, also from Myanmar, was sentenced to 12 years for first-degree sexual assault.
• Thuan Thanh Hwang from Vietnam was convicted of murder following a gang-related incident.
• Diane Peter Domach, from Sudan, was convicted of armed robbery in 2014.

According to DHS sources, all eight had received final removal orders or chose not to appeal their initial deportation decisions.

The Trump administration has sought to challenge Judge Murphy’s ruling with an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, but no further action has occurred as of now.

D. John Saur, counsel working on the case, stated in an emergency appeal, “This situation highlights the government’s challenge in deporting some of the most serious illegal immigrants.” He added that the U.S. is currently facing an overwhelming crisis regarding illegal immigration.