In a controversial first, the US Department of Homeland Security has confirmed the deportation of immigrants convicted of serious crimes—including murder, child rape, and assault—to Eswatini under a newly implemented “third country” policy.
The deportees, hailing from Vietnam, Cuba, Laos, Jamaica, and Yemen, were removed following a landmark US Supreme Court ruling permitting deportations to countries other than their nations of origin when those countries refuse repatriation.
Eswatini, agreeing to accept the individuals after their home countries declined, marks the first publicly disclosed use of this legal mechanism. US officials insist that the deportees were carefully screened to prevent risks of persecution or torture, and that diplomatic protocols with Eswatini were in place.
However, this move has ignited fierce condemnation from human rights organisations and legal advocates. Critics argue that sending foreign nationals to countries where they have no cultural or community ties—and denying them access to proper asylum hearings—violates international protections and fundamental human rights.
The controversy shines a spotlight on the complexities and ethical dilemmas facing immigration enforcement policies in an increasingly interconnected world.
