Mexican Deported by US to South Sudan Returns Home to Mexico City

Web Editor

September 7, 2025

a man in a suit and tie sitting down outside a building with a plant behind him and a window behind

Background on Jesús Muñoz Gutiérrez and the Context of His Deportation

Jesús Muñoz Gutiérrez, a Mexican national, was deported by the United States to South Sudan as part of President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown. The Mexican government confirmed his arrival in Mexico City after being repatriated from Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

Trump’s Immigration Policy and Mass Deportations

Since taking office in January, President Trump has accelerated deportations and sent numerous migrants to African and Central American countries as part of his mass expulsion program. Muñoz Gutiérrez’s case is one such example, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of these policies.

Muñoz Gutiérrez’s Journey and Current Status

Journalists at the Mexico City airport awaiting Muñoz Gutiérrez’s arrival did not see him exit through the main terminal, as his flight made a stop in the German city of Frankfurt. The Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs released a photograph of Muñoz Gutiérrez at another area of the airport.

In May, the US government announced Muñoz Gutiérrez’s deportation, stating he had been sentenced to life in prison for homicide. However, the Mexican government clarified on Sunday that their compatriot was arbitrarily taken to South Sudan after completing a 25-year sentence.

“I finished my time there in the United States,” Muñoz Gutiérrez said Saturday from Juba, before flying to Ethiopia with Mexico’s ambassador, Alejandro Estivill.

“I never thought I would come to South Sudan… They treated me well,” he added.

South Sudan: A Challenging Destination

South Sudan, the world’s youngest country since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, faces significant instability and poverty. The nation has only recently emerged from a brutal civil war that claimed 400,000 lives between 2013 and 2018.

Key Questions and Answers

  • Who is Jesús Muñoz Gutiérrez? He is a Mexican national deported by the United States to South Sudan.
  • Why was Muñoz Gutiérrez deported? He was deported as part of President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration policies aimed at mass deportations.
  • What was Muñoz Gutiérrez’s sentence in the US? The US government initially claimed he was sentenced to life in prison for homicide, but the Mexican government stated he had served 25 years of a sentence.
  • Where is South Sudan, and what challenges does it face? South Sudan is the world’s youngest country, gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. It struggles with instability, poverty, and the aftermath of a civil war that resulted in 400,000 deaths between 2013 and 2018.