Laotian man deported to South Sudan finally returns to Laos

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 19:55 · Archive

Thongxay Nilakout, 49, has left South Sudan for Laos after more than a year in detention.

Thongxay Nilakout, 49, left South Sudan on Thursday afternoon for Vientiane, the capital of Laos, after spending more than a year detained in Juba, South Sudan's capital. He had been held there since July 2025.

Nilakout was deported to South Sudan by the United States in May 2025 along with seven other men. They were initially rerouted to a U.S. military base in Djibouti after a federal judge blocked their deportation to South Sudan midflight. They later arrived in Juba aboard a military aircraft following a Supreme Court ruling that allowed their removal. The eight were held in a gated house under armed guard.

All had criminal convictions in the United States but had served their prison sentences before being taken into immigration custody. Nilakout's attorney, Tin Nguyen, said the deportation to South Sudan could have been avoided. A Lao consular officer had already issued a travel document before the U.S. deported him. "He should have been sent to Laos," Nguyen said. South Sudan's Foreign Ministry said it coordinated the repatriation with Laos, which provided assurances against torture upon his return.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said it was preparing a response to questions about the case. According to advocacy groups Human Rights First and Refugees International, hundreds have been deported from the U.S. to African countries that are not their home nations.

How it is being reported

• Laotian man deported by US to South Sudan leaves for Laos after year in detentionA Laotian man deported by the U.S. to South Sudan has returned to his home country after more than a year in detention.News4Jax · 8 Oct, 19:18
• Laotian man deported by US to South Sudan leaves for Laos after year in detentionA Laotian man deported by the U.S. to South Sudan has returned to his home country after more than a year in detention.Clickorlando · 8 Oct, 19:18

In this story: Thongxay Nilakout · Tin Nguyen · South Sudan · Laos · United States · Human Rights First · Refugees International · U.S. Department of Homeland Security

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem