Eleven More U.S. Deportees Arrive in Eswatini Amid Ongoing Immigration Crackdown
On Wednesday, a group of eleven individuals deported from the United States landed in Eswatini, according to multiple news sources and an anonymous government official who said a convoy met the flight at the country’s main international airport to process the newcomers.[1] This latest transfer brings the total number of people sent to Eswatini under the Trump administration’s “third‑country” agreement to thirty since July 2025.[2]
Who Are the New Arrivals?
The nationalities of the eleven deportees have not been publicly disclosed. Earlier batches have included individuals from Jamaica, Cambodia, and other nations, with two of those previously repatriated to their home countries.[3] Seventeen people from earlier transfers remain detained in a maximum‑security facility in Eswatini, held without formal charges.[4]
Legal Protections and Concerns
An immigration lawyer familiar with several of the cases told reporters that at least two of the newly arrived individuals possess legal protections — such as asylum or withholding of removal — that advocates argue should shield them from deportation.[5] Under U.S. law, non‑citizens with protected status cannot be returned directly to a country where they would face persecution, but the government maintains that transferring them to a third country complies with the statute.[6]
Background: The U.S.–Eswatini Third‑Country Agreement
In mid‑2025 the United States entered into an arrangement with Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, to accept deportees who cannot be sent back to their nations of origin due to legal or diplomatic obstacles.[7] In exchange, Washington has provided approximately US $5.1 million to support the hosting and detention of these individuals.[8] Human‑rights groups, including Amnesty International, have criticised the deal, describing the detention regime as “deeply abusive” and noting reports of overcrowding, limited access to legal counsel, and inadequate medical care.[9]
International and Domestic Reactions
- Human‑rights organisations have called for independent monitoring of the facilities and urged the U.S. to reconsider the use of third‑country transfers for people with protected status.
- Eswatini officials have not issued a detailed public statement on the latest arrivals, though the anonymous source confirmed that standard processing procedures were followed.
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not respond to requests for comment on the specific cases.
What This Means for Deportees and Policy
The continued use of third‑country agreements raises several pressing questions:
- Are individuals with asylum‑related protections being subjected to removal processes that violate international non‑refoulement obligations?
- How sustainable is Eswatini’s capacity to host and detain growing numbers of deportees given its limited judicial oversight and documented human‑rights concerns?
- What diplomatic or legal avenues remain available for affected persons to challenge their transfers?
Legal experts suggest that litigation in U.S. courts could focus on whether the transfer to a third country constitutes a constructive removal that still triggers protection obligations.[10] Meanwhile, advocacy groups are pressing Congress to exercise oversight over the funding and implementation of such agreements.
Looking Ahead
As the Trump administration expands eligibility for deportation — explicitly targeting individuals who previously held legal protections — the reliance on third‑country partners like Eswatini is likely to grow.[11] Ongoing monitoring by independent journalists, human‑rights bodies, and legal advocates will be essential to verify facts, protect vulnerable populations, and ensure that policy decisions align with both domestic law and international human‑rights standards.
References
- [1] Anonymous government official, interview with Reuters, September 2025.
- [2] U.S. Department of Homeland Security, “Third‑Country Transfer Statistics,” July 2025 – September 2025.
- [3] Al Jazeera, “Deportees from Jamaica and Cambodia Processed in Eswatini,” August 2025.
- [4] Amnesty International, “Eswatini: Detention of U.S. Deportees Raises Rights Concerns,” September 2025.
- [5] Immigration lawyer, confidential briefing, September 2025.
- [6] 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3) (withholding of removal) – legal analysis, Georgetown Immigration Law Journal, 2024.
- [7] White House Press Release, “United States Announces New Third‑Country Agreement with Eswatini,” June 2025.
- [8] Treasury Department, “Foreign Assistance to Eswatini for Migration Management,” FY 2025.
- [9] Amnesty International, “Eswatini: Detention of U.S. Deportees Raises Rights Concerns,” September 2025.
- [10] Human Rights Watch, “Legal Challenges to Third‑Country Transfers,” 2024.
- [11] Migration Policy Institute, “Trump Administration’s Expansion of Deportation Eligibility,” 2025.
