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CAPE TOWN, South Africa —
The United States has quietly deported five convicted criminals to the southern African kingdom of Eswatini, marking a new chapter in a controversial Trump-era policy that outsources deportations to countries with no direct ties to the individuals being removed.
The men — citizens of Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen, and Laos — were flown into Eswatini under what U.S. Homeland Security officials describe as a third-country deportation arrangement. The move follows the deportation of eight other men to South Sudan earlier this month, after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted restrictions on such practices.
Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin announced the Eswatini deportations in a late-night social media post, describing the individuals as “uniquely barbaric” criminals who were refused repatriation by their home countries. Among the crimes cited were murder, child rape, and gang affiliation.
“These individuals have been terrorizing American communities,” McLaughlin wrote. “Now, they are off American soil.”
However, no details were provided regarding when or where the deportations took place, or what legal framework governs the arrangement with Eswatini.
Silence from Eswatini, Alarms from Civil Society
Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, has made no official comment on the arrival of the deportees or any deal with the U.S. government. The lack of transparency has prompted concern from local civil society groups, who warn that the country — already grappling with economic hardship and political repression — is ill-equipped to manage foreign nationals with serious criminal histories.
“There has been a notable lack of official communication from the Eswatini government,” said Ingiphile Dlamini, spokesperson for the pro-democracy group SWALIMO. “This opacity makes it difficult for civic society to understand the implications.”
Dlamini questioned whether the deported individuals were being held in detention, what their legal status was, and whether their presence posed risks to the local population. He added that Eswatini’s authoritarian political structure, under the rule of King Mswati III, has a long history of suppressing dissent — raising further concerns over the rights and treatment of foreign detainees.
A Risky Bargain for Poor Nations
Analysts say the U.S. has increasingly looked to strike deportation deals with African nations in exchange for diplomatic perks — including relaxed visa policies, trade incentives, and foreign aid. Leaders from five West African nations recently met with President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss migration-related cooperation, though some governments, including Nigeria, have publicly rejected the idea of accepting non-citizen deportees.
South Sudan, where eight other men were deported earlier this month, has also offered no details about its arrangement with the U.S. or the fate of those individuals. “South Sudan is not a dumping ground for criminals,” said a prominent civil society leader there.
The deported South Sudan cohort had reportedly spent weeks at a U.S. military base in Djibouti before being sent to the war-torn country.
Meanwhile, negotiations are said to be underway between the U.S. and Rwanda for a similar third-country deportation agreement. This comes despite a ruling by the U.K. Supreme Court last year that deemed a British plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda illegal.
Legal and Ethical Questions Grow
The escalating use of third-country deportations — particularly to nations with limited resources and questionable human rights records — has drawn sharp criticism from advocacy groups and legal experts. Critics argue that the practice evades international protections for migrants and places vulnerable individuals at further risk.
While the Trump administration touts these deportations as a win for American public safety, questions remain over their legality, morality, and long-term impact on host countries.
“This may be a victory for American optics,” said one African policy analyst, “but it’s a ticking time bomb for nations that didn’t sign up for this burden.”
