Eight migrant detainees are currently being held at a US military base in Djibouti after a planned deportation flight was stopped due to a court case, according to US officials. The flight left the United States on Tuesday, headed for South Sudan. But a federal judge in Massachusetts raised concerns about sending the detainees to a dangerous, war-torn country. The plane was then diverted and landed in Djibouti, where the detainees are now at Camp Lemonnier, a US Navy base. The group includes people with criminal records from different countries not just South Sudan. It’s unclear when they will

Eight migrant detainees are currently being held at a US military base in Djibouti after a planned deportation flight was stopped due to a court case, according to US officials.

The flight left the United States on Tuesday, headed for South Sudan. But a federal judge in Massachusetts raised concerns about sending the detainees to a dangerous, war-torn country. The plane was then diverted and landed in Djibouti, where the detainees are now at Camp Lemonnier, a US Navy base.

The group includes people with criminal records from different countries not just South Sudan. It’s unclear when they will leave the base or where they will go next.

One US official said, “I still don’t fully understand how this happened.” Another official said the situation is “definitely stressful” for both military and immigration officials.

According to CNN, The Djiboutian government is also upset about the situation. Officials there are not happy with having the detainees at the military base, and US military leaders in Djibouti have warned Washington that this could harm diplomatic and military relations.

At a press conference on Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called the flight a “diplomatic and military security operation.” But that confused military leaders who didn’t see it as a military mission.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt blamed the court for the delay. “Every single one of these individuals… had final orders of removal,” she said. “Now the judge is forcing officials to remain in Djibouti for over two weeks, putting agents’ lives in danger by being with these illegal, murderous criminals and rapists.”

Attorneys for the detainees filed an emergency motion to stop the deportation. The judge then asked if DHS could do “reasonable fear interviews” a first step for detainees to claim fear of being harmed if sent to another country while the detainees were still on the plane.

One DHS official responded, “I would have to call over and find out, your honor. Currently, they’re sitting on a plane.”

Later, officials confirmed the interviews could happen at the base, but as of Thursday morning, lawyers had not been told how to contact their clients or when the interviews would happen.

Military officials at the base are now waiting for decisions from the court and DHS.

“We’re just waiting for others to figure those things out,” one official said.

A little more informed. A little more connected.