South Sudan said on Thursday it was negotiating to return migrants it took from the United States under President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown to their countries of origin.

South Sudan took eight deportees from the US in July.

They were convicted of serious crimes in the US. Only one of the deportees was South Sudanese.

"I can confirm that our ministry is engaging the countries who have their nationals here," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Apuk Ayuel Mayen told reporters.

'In contact with their governments'

One of the deportees, Mexican national Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez, was repatriated over the weekend. The remaining six are from Cuba, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

"We are in engagement with their governments or trying to make contact with their governments for possible repatriation," Mayen said.

She said repatriation might not be the sole option, noting there could be "other options" if "their countries do not show interest to receive their nationals". She did not give any further details.

"Hopefully, we will be announcing soon any other possible repatriation," she said.