US says it has deported five 'barbaric' migrants to Eswatini

 

The United States has deported five individuals convicted of serious crimes, including child rape and murder, to the southern African kingdom of Eswatini. The deportees, originating from Vietnam, Cuba, Yemen, Jamaica, and Laos, were labeled "criminal illegal aliens" by the US Department of Homeland Security. According to Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, their crimes were so severe that their countries of origin refused to accept them back. This led the US to arrange a so-called “safe third country” deportation flight to Eswatini. McLaughlin described the men as “depraved monsters” who had been “terrorizing American communities.”

Eswatini, previously known as Swaziland, is a small landlocked country led by King Mswati III. It has not issued any official statement on the arrival of the deportees. The country’s name had been circulating in media reports as a potential recipient for third-country deportations.

This flight is part of a broader policy shift by the Trump administration, which recently received the green light from the US Supreme Court to deport individuals to third countries nations other than the migrants' country of origin. This change has opened the door for deportations to nations that may have no connection to the individuals being expelled.

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The Eswatini deportation is just one example of the Trump administration’s broader deportation strategy, which has included sending individuals to countries like South Sudan and Costa Rica. Recently, South Sudan accepted eight deportees, only one of whom was a South Sudanese national. They are currently being held in a civilian facility in Juba. The US had previously revoked all visas for South Sudanese passport holders due to the country’s refusal to accept repatriated citizens in a timely fashion.

Several countries have either confirmed discussions or been named as potential destinations for such deportees. These include Rwanda, Benin, Angola, Moldova, and Equatorial Guinea. However, not all nations are cooperating. Nigeria recently stated it would not yield to US pressure to accept third-country deportees or Venezuelan migrants, pushing back against Trump’s efforts.

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President Trump’s approach to immigration has gone far beyond undocumented migrants. His administration has targeted individuals on student visas, halted refugee admissions except for white South Africans and attempted to revoke work permits and legal protections granted under past administrations. Workplace immigration raids have also resumed after being paused under President Joe Biden. These efforts reflect a key Trump campaign promise: mass deportations, a policy that continues to garner support from some voter groups, including segments of the Hispanic population.