The United States has restarted third-country deportations, transferring five convicted foreign nationals to Eswatini on Wednesday, July 16th. The move, part of a broader immigration strategy under the Trump administration, has drawn criticism from rights groups and local activists.
The individuals, originally from Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen, and Laos, were deported after their home countries declined to accept them, according to U.S. officials. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the men had serious criminal convictions, including murder and sexual assault, and described them as “uniquely barbaric” individuals who had “terrorized American communities.”
In Eswatini, authorities confirmed the detainees are being held in segregated prison units. Government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli assured the public that the men do not pose a threat and that talks with the United Nations are underway to coordinate possible transfers to their countries of origin.
The decision to accept the deportees has triggered criticism in Eswatini. Activists like Lucky Lukhele of the Swazi Solidarity Network argue that the country should not become a dumping ground for international criminals and point to long-standing problems within the local prison system, including limited capacity and safety concerns.
The transfer follows a June U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allowed the government to resume sending individuals to countries with which they have no direct ties. Earlier this month, a similar deportation flight was carried out to South Sudan.
Eswatini, an absolute monarchy led by King Mswati III, has a poor human rights record. Analysts suggest that the decision to accept the deportees was likely driven by economic interests, particularly the need to maintain trade ties with the U.S.
