Not a joke — deported to where?! US sends immigrants from Cuba and Jamaica to African Nation Eswatini

Time of India

16-07-2025

The U.S. sent 5
deported immigrants
to
Eswatini
, a small country in southern Africa. The men are originally from Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen, and Laos. They were sent because their own countries refused to take them back.
All five had serious criminal records like murder, child rape, and one was a confirmed gang member. The U.S. called them "uniquely barbaric" and said they were terrorizing communities in America. Their mugshots and charges were shared on social media, but their names were not revealed, as per the report by AP News.
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Where were they sent — and why Eswatini?
Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is a tiny kingdom between South Africa and Mozambique. It's Africa's last absolute monarchy, ruled by King Mswati III since 1986. The U.S. and Eswatini worked together for months before sending the men there, as per the reports.
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Eswatini said they are keeping the men in isolation inside unnamed prisons. They called them "inmates" and "prisoners" in transit, meaning they're not staying permanently. Eswatini and the UN migration agency will help send them back to their home countries later. No exact date was given for when this will happen, , as per the reports.
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Why is this so controversial?
The U.S. Supreme Court recently allowed deporting people to countries where they have no personal ties. Before this, the U.S. had also deported 8 men to South Sudan, another African nation, according to the report AP News.
The South Sudanese government didn't say what happened to those 8 men after they arrived. The Trump administration is quietly expanding third-country deportation deals, especially in Africa, as per the reports.
Rights groups like Amnesty International say Eswatini is not safe, with human rights abuses, torture, and bad prison conditions. The U.S. government's own 2023 report said Eswatini had killings by police and impunity for abuses, as stated by AP News.
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Vietnam, Cuba, Yemen, and Jamaica have been resistant in the past to accepting deported citizens — especially criminals. Nigeria rejected U.S. pressure to accept non-citizen deportees. Rwanda is talking to the U.S. about maybe accepting deportees too. The UK tried a similar deportation plan to Rwanda in 2022, but their Supreme Court shut it down, according to the report by AP News.
What's in It for Africa?
Experts think some African countries may accept deportees in exchange for better trade deals, aid, or visa talks with the U.S. One South Sudan civil leader said his country is 'not a dumping ground for criminals', as per reports.
The U.S. is now sending foreign criminals to third countries like Eswatini when their own nations refuse to take them back. Rights groups are warning these deportations could lead to human rights abuses. The Trump admin is looking for more countries willing to make similar secret deals, as mentioned in the report by AP News.
FAQs
Q1. Why did the U.S. deport criminals to Eswatini?
Their home countries wouldn't take them back, so they were sent to a third country.
Q2. Is Eswatini safe for deported immigrants?
Rights groups say it's risky due to abuse, poor prisons, and lack of freedoms.