Five Migrants Deported to Eswatini Following Supreme Court Clearance

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Trump administration has deported five migrants, previously convicted of violent crimes, to Eswatini in Southern Africa. This marks the latest instance of "third-country" deportations, a practice that received a green light from the U.S. Supreme Court last month. The individuals, originating from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen, and Cuba, were sent to the small African nation after their home countries reportedly refused to accept them.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the flight, with spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stating on social media that the deportees had "serious criminal convictions including child rape and murder" and were "uniquely barbaric." This action follows a Supreme Court ruling in late June that overturned a lower court order, clearing the way for the administration to send individuals to countries where they are not citizens, even without a "meaningful opportunity" to contest their removal.

The new policy, outlined in a memo from acting ICE director Todd Lyons, allows for "swift removals," sometimes with as little as six hours' notice in "exigent circumstances." While 24 hours' notice is generally given, the administration's intent is to accelerate deportations for individuals whose home countries are unwilling to repatriate them. This operational shift aims to fulfill the administration's broader anti-immigration agenda.

The move has drawn significant criticism from human rights advocates and legal experts. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in her dissent from the Supreme Court ruling, warned that some individuals could face torture or worse, highlighting concerns over due process and potential human rights violations. Amnesty International USA's director of refugee and migrant rights noted Eswatini's human rights record, which includes credible reports of unlawful killings and harsh prison conditions.

Eswatini, an absolute monarchy, confirmed the arrival of the five men, stating they are housed in isolated units within correctional facilities. Acting government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli indicated that the deportees would eventually be repatriated to their respective countries, adding that the arrangement was "the result of months of robust high-level engagements" with the U.S. government. This deportation follows a similar instance earlier this month where eight men were sent to South Sudan, a country also facing human rights concerns.