The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has carried out the deportation of several foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes to Eswatini, marking the first known case under a new legal mechanism that enables deportation to third-party countries.
The individuals involved originally from Vietnam, Cuba, Laos, Jamaica, and Yemen, had been found guilty of severe offences, including murder, assault, and child abuse. Their deportation followed after their home countries declined to accept their return, prompting the U.S. to seek alternative arrangements.
This action comes in the wake of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that authorises the federal government to remove certain individuals to third countries, particularly when their nations of origin refuse to repatriate them.
According to U.S. officials, Eswatini was selected following negotiations, as other avenues had been exhausted due to the nature of the deportees’ criminal records.
The selection process, they said, involved formal agreements to ensure that the individuals would not be subjected to persecution or torture upon arrival.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organisations, who argue that sending people to unfamiliar countries where they have no cultural or social ties exposes them to isolation and potential rights violations.
These groups have also raised concerns about the lack of access to asylum or proper legal recourse, which could contravene international human rights standards.
In response, U.S. authorities maintain that all deportees were thoroughly vetted and that diplomatic safeguards were in place to prevent potential harm.
Still, legal analysts caution that the long-term implications of the ruling and the policy it enables will likely remain a contentious issue in immigration and human rights circles.
