US Expands Controversial Third-Country Deportations to Eswatini for Convicted Immigrants

The United States has recently expanded its contentious third-country deportation program, sending five immigrants convicted of serious crimes to the African nation of Eswatini. This move follows a similar deportation of eight men to South Sudan weeks prior, after the Supreme Court lifted restrictions on sending individuals to countries where they lack ties.

In a late-night announcement, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the deportation of five men—citizens of Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen, and Laos—to Eswatini. McLaughlin stated these individuals were convicted criminals, including for murder and child rape, and described them as “uniquely barbaric” and “terrorizing American communities” whose home countries refused their return. Mug shots and criminal records were shared, though the men were not named.

Eswatini’s government confirmed holding the men, referred to as “prisoners” and “inmates,” in isolated units, clarifying they are in transit for eventual repatriation to their home countries. The government pledged collaboration with the U.S. and the U.N. migration agency to ensure “due process and respect for human rights” during their return, without providing a timeline.

The policy of deporting individuals to third countries, particularly absolute monarchies like Eswatini, raises significant human rights concerns. Critics, including Trina Realmuto of the National Immigration Litigation Alliance, highlight the program’s secrecy, lack of notice to deportees, and the potential for sending individuals to countries with poor human rights records. Amnesty International USA’s Amy Fischer noted Eswatini’s documented human rights abuses, including unlawful killings and harsh prison conditions, making it a high-risk destination for deportees.

This expansion aligns with the U.S.’s ongoing efforts to secure more deals with African nations for accepting deportees, even as some countries like Nigeria have pushed back against such arrangements. Discussions are reportedly underway with Rwanda, despite a similar UK deportation plan to Rwanda being ruled illegal. The U.S. has also sent hundreds of Venezuelans and others to Central American nations.

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