A federal judge has intervened in a dramatic immigration case involving migrants who were allegedly deported to Sudan—despite not being from the war-torn country—by the Trump administration. The decision has ignited a legal firestorm, with Judge Brian E. Murphy warning that criminal charges could be on the table if his court order was violated.

The incident centers around a mysterious deportation flight carrying migrants to an undisclosed location. During a Tuesday emergency hearing, Justice Department officials struggled to answer basic questions, including where the plane was, who was on board, and where it was headed. One DOJ attorney, Elianis N. Perez, declined to disclose the destination, claiming it was classified—something the judge openly questioned.

“I am not going to order that the plane turn around,” Murphy said, “but I am ordering the U.S. to maintain custody of the migrants upon landing.”

While the administration has not confirmed the total number of migrants on the flight, the court was told that at least one Burmese national and one Vietnamese individual were believed to be onboard. Both were reportedly bound for South Sudan, a country the U.S. State Department has deemed extremely dangerous due to ongoing civil war and human rights abuses.

Adding to the chaos, one migrant, a Burmese man with limited English skills, reportedly refused to sign his removal notice to South Sudan—likely because the form was only provided in English.

Murphy previously ordered that deportees could not be sent to countries where they are not citizens or nationals, and where they could face harm, unless given proper due process. His April ruling required that migrants be informed in writing of their removal plans and granted 15 days to legally challenge their deportation.

Attorneys representing the migrants argued that the Department of Homeland Security ignored this order, filing an emergency motion accusing DHS of bypassing the court-mandated process. They further emphasized that South Sudan is designated by the U.S. for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), underscoring the dangers of deportation to the region.

The judge, clearly frustrated, suggested that DHS and other federal officials involved in the deportation could face contempt of court charges. “This seems like it may be contempt,” Murphy said. “Officials who were aware of my order—including possibly the pilots—could be held accountable.”

Perez, the DOJ attorney, didn’t help the administration’s case by repeatedly citing “classified” information while refusing to provide key details, including what law gives the government the authority to classify deportation flight information. “I don’t have the answer to that,” she told the court.

The judge’s order now ensures that the deportees remain under U.S. control while the court investigates whether their removal violated federal due process laws and international protections under the U.N. Convention Against Torture (CAT).

South Sudan has become synonymous with chaos. Civil war, widespread famine, and horrific atrocities—including torture, forced displacement, and mass killings—have made it one of the most dangerous countries in the world. Critics say sending vulnerable individuals there is tantamount to issuing them a death sentence.

The plaintiffs in the case are asking the court to order the migrants’ immediate return to the United States, claiming they were sent into active danger without legal warning or recourse.

This case could have major implications for how the Trump administration enforces immigration policy during his second term, particularly with ongoing efforts to scale up mass deportations and revive expedited removal powers. If the court sides with the migrants, it could also set limits on how far DHS can go when operating under executive immigration orders.

For now, one thing is clear: a federal judge is watching closely—and he’s not amused.