In a significant expansion of the Trump administration’s deportation program, the United States has sent five men labeled as ‘barbaric’ criminals to the small African nation of Eswatini.
This recent development comes on the heels of previous deportations to South Sudan, following a Supreme Court decision that lifted restrictions on sending individuals back to countries where they have no ties.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that eight men had already been deported to South Sudan, although details about their current status remain unclear, leaving civic groups and human rights advocates concerned.
Tricia McLaughlin, the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, confirmed that the five deportees, who hold citizenship in countries including Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen, and Laos, had arrived in Eswatini via plane. However, she did not disclose specific details concerning the timing or location of their arrival.
According to McLaughlin, these individuals were convicted felons, described as ‘individuals so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back.’
She elaborated on their criminal histories, which include severe offenses such as murder and child rape, and indicated that one of the men is a known gang member.
McLaughlin’s announcement included mug shots and allegations of their criminal records, but she did not release their identities.
The move to deport these individuals has been met with concerns from civic groups in Eswatini, particularly given the government’s history of suppressing political dissent and its lack of transparency.
Ingiphile Dlamini, a spokesperson from the pro-democracy group SWALIMO, emphasized the absence of official communications from the Eswatini government regarding any agreements to accept the deportees. This lack of clarity poses challenges for civic society in understanding the potential implications for the local community.
Dlamini expressed that it remains uncertain whether the deported men would be held in a detention center or what their legal status would be following their arrival.
Eswatini, a nation with a population of approximately 1.2 million situated between South Africa and Mozambique, is one of the last absolute monarchies in the world. King Mswati III has ruled since 1986, often through decrees, effectively banning political parties.
Over the years, pro-democracy groups, including SWALIMO, have claimed that Mswati III’s regime has violently repressed dissenting political movements. Protests for democratic reforms erupted in Eswatini in 2021, resulting in alleged violent crackdowns by security forces and political assassinations of activists.
Dlamini pointed out the significant strain that accommodating individuals with serious criminal convictions may impose on Eswatini, a country already grappling with limited resources.
While the U.S. has framed these deportations as a measure to enhance public safety at home, local groups in Eswatini are increasingly concerned about the implications these individuals pose to their communities.
The overarching goal of the Trump administration appears to be establishing additional agreements with various African nations to facilitate the deportation of individuals from the United States.
Leaders from five West African nations discussed the potential of accepting deportees during their recent meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House.
However, some countries have expressed their reluctance. For instance, Nigeria, which did not participate in the White House summit, has refused to comply with U.S. pressure to accept deportees that are citizens of other nations.
In addition to Africa, the U.S. has also sent numerous Venezuelans and others to Central American countries such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Panama, but the Trump administration has indicated that Africa may offer a more favorable landscape for deportation agreements.
Rwanda’s foreign minister recently confirmed that negotiations were ongoing between the U.S. and Rwanda regarding a potential agreement to host deported migrants.
This topic has garnered global attention, especially after a British plan to deport rejected asylum-seekers to Rwanda was deemed illegal by the U.K. Supreme Court last year.
The situation in South Sudan, however, remains particularly troubling as it has been labeled as a ‘war-torn’ nation. The eight men who were deported there arrived after spending several weeks at a U.S. military base in Djibouti.
The South Sudanese government has not disclosed the particulars of its agreement with the U.S., leading a prominent civil society leader there to state that South Sudan is ‘not a dumping ground for criminals.’
Some analysts suggest that several African nations may be open to accepting third-country deportees in exchange for favorable terms in U.S. negotiations concerning tariffs, foreign aid, and visa regulations.
As these developments unfold, the concerns surrounding human rights and the treatment of deported individuals continue to resonate both within Eswatini and beyond.
image source from：nbcmiami
