THE administration of President Donald Trump has deported five convicted foreign nationals—deemed ‘criminal illegal aliens’—to the Kingdom of Eswatini after their home countries reportedly refused to accept them back.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, officials from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described the individuals as ‘so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back.’ The deported men are originally from Vietnam, Laos, Yemen, Cuba and Jamaica. Details about their specific convictions were not released by DHS at the time of publication.
The unusual move comes days after a similar deportation effort that saw eight other foreign nationals sent to South Sudan on July 4, following authorisation from the US Supreme Court. That deportation also drew international attention, given the ongoing conflict and instability in the East African nation.
This latest batch of removals signals a marked intensification of the Trump administration’s tough immigration posture, particularly in cases involving individuals with criminal records and unresolved nationality status.
Eswatini steps in as home countries refuse
The Kingdom of Eswatini, a small southern African nation bordered by South Africa and Mozambique, has agreed to host the five deportees temporarily. It is not clear whether Eswatini, which has no direct ethnic or national ties to the individuals, negotiated any terms with the US government before accepting them.
Formerly known as Swaziland, Eswatini is the last absolute monarchy on the continent and has been ruled by King Mswati III since 1986. While the country maintains a relatively low profile in international affairs, its latest role in absorbing unwanted deportees could complicate its diplomatic standing in the region.
US officials have not commented on why Eswatini was selected or whether other African nations were approached prior to the transfer.
Legal greenlight sparks fresh removals
These deportations follow a Supreme Court ruling earlier this month which upheld the federal government’s authority to remove undocumented migrants even when their countries of origin refuse repatriation. The ruling is likely to trigger a spike in so-called ‘third-country deportations’, whereby migrants are sent to neutral states willing to host them—regardless of any legal or cultural link.
Rights groups have expressed alarm over the precedent, warning that such practices risk turning parts of Africa into ‘dumping grounds’ for migrants rejected by both the US and their home governments.
The Trump administration, however, continues to argue that the moves are justified on grounds of national security and public safety, especially when involving foreign nationals convicted of serious offences.
As the legal and diplomatic consequences of these deportations unfold, Eswatini’s acceptance of the five men places it at the centre of a new chapter in America’s global deportation strategy.
