Source: YouTube
The Kingdom of Eswatini has agreed to repatriate migrants deported by the United States after their countries of origin refused to accept them. Five men from Vietnam, Cuba, Jamaica, Yemen, and Laos were flown to the southern African nation under the Trump administration’s third-country deportation policy. Eswatini officials confirmed that the men are being held in isolation inside correctional facilities while the government works to send them to their home countries.
The deportations came days after the Supreme Court upheld the administration’s authority to conduct removals to third countries without requiring citizenship or established ties. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security said the migrants had been convicted of serious crimes and were refused by their native governments.
Eswatini’s Role and Its Motivations
Eswatini is a landlocked monarchy between South Africa and Mozambique. The country was formerly known as Swaziland and is ruled by King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute monarch. With a population of 1.2 million, it struggles with widespread poverty and has the highest HIV prevalence in the world. Despite this, the monarchy maintains close diplomatic and economic relationships with major trading partners, including the United States.
The government has not revealed the full terms of the agreement, but analysts suggest that economic concerns played a central role. The U.S. is Eswatini’s fourth-largest market for sugar, the country’s primary export. Officials may have accepted the deportees to avoid economic retaliation or safeguard access to trade benefits. Government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said the decision followed months of planning, including coordination with U.S. authorities and international partners.
In her statement, Mdluli stressed that the deportees do not pose a threat to the public and are being held securely. She declined to say whether Eswatini received any financial compensation or aid in return for accepting the men.
Controversy Surrounding the DHS’ Third-Country Deportations Program
Third-country deportation is a process in which the U.S. sends migrants to nations they have no direct ties to, usually because their home countries refuse to take them back. The Trump administration revived this policy following the Supreme Court’s recent decision. The program has already involved deportations to South Sudan, where officials confirmed they accepted eight men but refused to provide details about their condition or whereabouts.
Human rights advocates argue that this practice violates international norms, especially when there are risks of abuse or persecution. Critics say the administration is acting without transparency and is using smaller nations as tools for political messaging. Some immigration attorneys say the process often bypasses legal protections and accelerates removals without proper oversight.
Supporters of the policy argue it is necessary to enforce immigration law when origin countries are uncooperative. Homeland Security officials describe the program as a practical measure that targets convicted criminals who no longer have legal grounds to remain in the U.S. They also claim it creates incentives for voluntary departures and discourages illegal entry.
Opposition Inside Eswatini
Domestic reaction in Eswatini has been divided. Opposition groups accuse the government of putting national security at risk by accepting high-risk individuals. The Swaziland Peoples Liberation Movement called the decision an example of foreign exploitation. Critics argue that the U.S. used Eswatini as a backup destination because it faces limited scrutiny on the world stage.
Pro-democracy groups say the government made the decision unilaterally without public input or parliamentary debate. Some citizens have expressed concern about whether the prison system is equipped to hold foreign inmates with complex legal backgrounds. Others worry about the long-term implications of aligning with controversial foreign policies.
Wider Global Pressure to Accept U.S. Deportees
Eswatini is not the only nation approached by the U.S. for third-country deportation agreements. Reports suggest that Rwanda, Benin, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, and Moldova have also been in discussions. Nigeria has publicly rejected the idea, saying it cannot accept individuals who are not Nigerian nationals. However, South Sudan accepted deportees earlier this month, though most were not its citizens.
Diplomats and legal experts expect more countries to be pressured into compliance as the program expands. Many of these nations depend on U.S. trade or humanitarian aid, making them vulnerable to behind-the-scenes leverage.
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