The US has deported five convicted criminals to Eswatini, including individuals from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Cuba, and Yemen, prompting further discussions about the administration's wide-ranging immigration policies, which target not only undocumented residents but also those on various visas.
US Begins Controversial Deportations to Eswatini Amid Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
US Begins Controversial Deportations to Eswatini Amid Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
Five individuals described as "barbaric criminals" have been deported to Eswatini as part of a renewed immigration enforcement strategy by the Trump administration.
The United States has recently deported five individuals labeled as "criminal illegal aliens" to the southern African nation of Eswatini, furthering President Donald Trump's controversial immigration enforcement agenda. The deportees, who hail from countries including Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Cuba, and Yemen, have prior convictions for severe crimes, including child rape and murder, as stated by Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of the Homeland Security Department.
In remarkable remarks on X, McLaughlin termed the deportees "uniquely barbaric,” suggesting that their home nations would not accept them back. This flight marks a significant step in Trump's ongoing efforts to tighten immigration controls, which have recently expanded to encompass not just undocumented immigrants but also individuals on student visas and refugees, particularly from non-white backgrounds.
Earlier this month, the US sent eight migrants to South Sudan following lengthy negotiations, resulting in Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoking visas for South Sudanese passport holders due to their initial agreement to accept deportees. Conversely, Nigeria has openly rejected pressure from the Trump administration to accept Venezuelan deportees, limiting its ability to accept migrants from the US due to domestic challenges.
Trump's commitment to mass deportations, a central theme of his electoral campaign, has sparked significant backing, notably from segments of the Hispanic community. As the administration resumes workplace raids targeting immigrants—previously halted under Biden—the landscape of US immigration continues to shift, prioritizing enforcement and swift processing of deportations.
McLaughlin's posts detailed the extent of the crimes committed by the deportees, proclaiming their presence no longer a threat to American communities. She confirmed that a safe third country deportation flight had successfully reached Eswatini, a nation with a history of accepting such individuals, which had been speculated as a potential recipient for US deportees.
Long ruled by King Mswati III, who ascended to the throne in 1986, Eswatini remains the last absolute monarchy in Africa and has yet to officially comment on this latest arrival of deportees. The Trump administration's recent policies received a judicial backing when the US Supreme Court authorized the resumption of deportations to countries beyond an individual’s own.
Media reports also suggest that the US is in discussions with other nations including Rwanda, Benin, Angola, and Moldova regarding future deportations—expanding the scope of Trump's controversial immigration strategy. Thus far, deportees have also been sent to El Salvador and Costa Rica, signaling a broadening to enforce an expansive immigration reform agenda.
