The United States is being asked to explain why it appears to be deporting migrants from as far away as Vietnam and Cuba to South Sudan, a chaotic country that's once again in danger of collapsing into civil war.

The deportees are stuck in Djibouti amid a legal fight over their expulsions. A lawyer for some of the men said she was concerned for their health and welfare.

The Trump administration has reportedly started deporting individuals from Myanmar and Vietnam to South Sudan in apparent violation of a federal court order prohibiting such transfers, according to court filings submitted by immigration attorneys. Ethical issues arise from sending non-natives to an unsafe region.