U.S. sends five criminals to Eswatini in controversial third‑country deportation

The Department of Homeland Security logo is seen during a news conference in Washington, Feb. 25, 2015. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

The United States has deported five convicted foreign nationals—from Cuba, Jamaica, Laos, Vietnam, and Yemen—to Eswatini under a third-country removal policy, after their home countries refused to accept them. The Department of Homeland Security described the individuals as “so uniquely barbaric” that repatriation was denied, with convictions including murder, child rape, and gang-related violence.

According to The Washington Post, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin made the announcement in a post on X, declaring that the men “terrorised American communities” and had now been removed from U.S. soil. The deportation follows a Supreme Court ruling that cleared the way for expedited transfers to third countries, limiting individuals’ ability to contest the removals.

Eswatini authorities confirmed the detainees are being held in “isolated units” in correctional facilities, and that they currently remain in transit, pending eventual repatriation with support from the UN’s migration agency.

The Associated Press further reports that local human rights groups such as Swalimo have sharply criticised the arrangement. They warn that Eswatini risks becoming a “dumping ground” for dangerous individuals under opaque agreements brokered without public oversight or parliamentary approval.

Eswatini operates as an absolute monarchy under King Mswati III, and has faced global scrutiny for its limited political freedoms. Civil society leaders warn that detainees may face abuse in a system with documented accountability issues.