The Washington Eye
In a move stirring international concern, the United States deported five migrants to the Kingdom of Eswatini on July 16, 2025, under a controversial “third-country deportation” policy recently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. The deportees originally from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Cuba, and Yemen were convicted of serious criminal offenses including murder, child rape, assault, and gang affiliation. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), their countries of origin refused to accept them, prompting U.S. officials to seek alternative arrangements with nations willing to receive them temporarily. Eswatini, a small monarchy in southern Africa, agreed to receive the deportees, sparking debates about human rights and legal accountability.
The deportation was made possible by a Supreme Court decision in late June 2025 that expanded executive powers to carry out third-country removals without requiring extended legal reviews. As a result, these deportees were sent to Eswatini under a fast-track process with little advance notice. U.S. authorities argue that such deportations are necessary to remove foreign nationals who pose a threat to public safety and whose home nations refuse to cooperate. DHS officials described the deportees as “uniquely barbaric,” underscoring the gravity of their criminal backgrounds.
Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, has a population of 1.2 million and is ruled by King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute monarch. The country is frequently criticized for its human rights record, including alleged torture, police brutality, political suppression, and poor prison conditions. Human rights organizations raised alarms about sending vulnerable individuals regardless of criminal history to a country with such a track record. Despite these concerns, the U.S. stated that Eswatini provided assurances regarding humane treatment and coordination with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which is overseeing the temporary detention and processing of the deportees.
According to Eswatini’s government, the five men are currently being held in isolated facilities and are considered “in transit,” meaning they are expected to be repatriated to their countries of origin via further negotiations. A government spokesperson confirmed that the country is working with international partners to ensure the individuals are transferred safely and legally. However, the lack of transparency and the absence of public input from the affected individuals’ home countries continue to spark criticism.
This latest deportation adds to a growing list of third-country removals initiated under former President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown. Previous instances included the deportation of eight men to South Sudan, over 200 Venezuelans sent to El Salvador, and others dispatched to Rwanda, Guatemala, Kosovo, and Panama. In many cases, critics claim that deportees were sent to countries with troubling human rights records or minimal capacity to handle such transfers, raising serious ethical and legal questions.
Legal experts and human rights advocates argue that this approach violates international obligations, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits sending individuals to countries where they may face torture or persecution. Moreover, the policy has been criticized for targeting migrants primarily based on past criminal behavior, often without a clear path for appeal or oversight. Amnesty International USA and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have both condemned the move, calling it a dangerous precedent that undermines international law and basic human dignity.
Despite these concerns, the Trump administration defends the deportations as a matter of national security. A DHS spokesperson stated that “no nation should be forced to house individuals who are not their citizens and have committed heinous crimes on U.S. soil.” The administration is reportedly in talks with several other nations to expand its third-country agreements, though some such as Nigeria have already rejected such proposals on sovereignty and human rights grounds.
The Eswatini deportation may mark a pivotal moment in global immigration policy, with far-reaching implications for how nations handle unwanted or stateless individuals. As deportees await further transfer, the world watches closely, questioning whether geopolitical convenience is taking precedence over human rights and legal accountability.
