US Deports Five Convicted Criminals to Eswatini Under Controversial Third-Country Policy

Edited By: Tendai Zola

 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed the deportation of five foreign nationals to the Kingdom of Eswatini, a southern African monarchy, as part of its renewed third-country expulsion program. The operation, announced Tuesday, marks the second such transfer since the U.S. Supreme Court lifted previous restrictions on this policy.

The five men, hailing from Vietnam, Cuba, Yemen, Jamaica, and Laos, were all convicted of violent crimes in the United States. According to Deputy Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, the individuals were considered so dangerous that their countries of origin refused to accept them back. U.S. authorities opted instead to deport them to a neutral third state with which they have no known personal ties.

Earlier this month, on July 4, eight other individuals were deported to South Sudan following a green light from the U.S. judiciary—an unprecedented ruling that has paved the way for new deportation agreements targeting African nations deemed more receptive.

The transfer to Eswatini has yet to elicit an official response from the country’s government. No public information has been disclosed regarding the existence of a bilateral agreement governing the operation. The secrecy surrounding these procedures has raised concerns among human rights advocates, especially as several African countries, such as Nigeria, have openly declined to participate in such programs.

The Trump administration has signaled its intention to expand this model through additional third-country deals in the months ahead.