The United States has deported five migrants from Asian and Caribbean countries to the southern African nation of Eswatini under its controversial third-country deportation policy, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed on Tuesday.
The deportees—nationals of Cuba, Jamaica, Laos, Vietnam, and Yemen—were convicted of violent crimes, including child rape and murder, according to DHS. Their home countries reportedly refused to accept their return, prompting the US government to transfer them to Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarchy.
The deportation comes as President Donald Trump intensifies his immigration crackdown since returning to office in January. The administration has consistently defended third-country deportations, arguing that they are necessary when a migrant’s home country refuses to repatriate them.
“These criminal illegal aliens are so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back,” DHS stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
In June, the US Supreme Court upheld the Trump administration’s authority to resume deportations of undocumented migrants to countries that are not their own. This legal backing has accelerated the removal of individuals deemed dangerous, even if they have no prior ties to the receiving country.
Earlier in July, Washington deported eight other migrants—nationals of Cuba, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Mexico, and South Sudan—to South Sudan, a conflict-plagued nation that has also accepted third-country deportees.
Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is a small, landlocked country bordered by South Africa and Mozambique. The kingdom has been ruled by King Mswati III since 1986 and is often criticised for its poor human rights record and lack of democratic reforms.
While Eswatini has not publicly commented on the deportation, its acceptance of criminal deportees raises questions about international human rights obligations. Immigration analysts argue that transferring convicted criminals to countries with limited rehabilitation infrastructure could worsen security concerns in host nations.
Trump has pledged to expel millions of undocumented migrants as part of his broader immigration enforcement agenda. His administration argues that deporting violent offenders, even to third countries, protects US citizens and strengthens national security.
However, human rights organisations have criticised the policy, describing it as a violation of international norms. They argue that deporting migrants to countries with which they have no ties exposes them to potential abuse and undermines international refugee protection standards.
Despite criticism, DHS insists it will continue third-country deportations, citing public safety concerns. “We are committed to removing dangerous individuals who pose a threat to our communities, regardless of their country of origin,” DHS added
Eswatini’s acceptance of the five deportees underscores the growing use of third-country agreements in US immigration policy. With more countries reportedly being pressured to accept deportees, immigration experts warn that this trend could spark diplomatic tensions, particularly with nations concerned about the influx of high-risk individuals.
As the US ramps up enforcement, advocates are calling for greater transparency and monitoring of third-country deportations to ensure deportees are not subjected to inhumane treatment.