Eswatini to Repatriate U.S. Deportees Amid Diplomatic Dispute

Eswatini's decision to repatriate migrants highlights the complexities of international deportations and U.S. foreign relations.

The government of Eswatini revealed on Wednesday its intentions to repatriate five migrants recently deported from the United States. This follows a statement by U.S. officials indicating that the home nations of these deportees were unwilling to accept them. The migrants hailed from diverse nations including Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen, and Cuba, with each having previously been incarcerated in the U.S. for serious crimes, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

This incident marks the first application of the controversial third-country deportation strategy since a ruling by the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to proceed with such practices. On Tuesday evening, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin communicated on social media that these individuals were sent to Eswatini due to the failure of their respective countries to take them back.

Thabile Mdluli, spokesperson for the Eswatini government, issued a statement affirming that a collaborative effort with the U.S. government and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) would be established to manage the transit of these individuals back to their countries of origin. However, the IOM has clarified that it had no role in the initial deportation process and was not requested for assistance regarding the repatriation efforts.

As the situation unfolds, it underscores the intricate dynamics involved in immigration enforcement and the challenges faced by nations when handling deportees who lack safe or willing hosts.