The deportation of five immigrants from the United States to Eswatini has sparked international human rights concerns.
Eswatini’s government confirmed it had accepted the deportees who originated from countries including Vietnam, Cuba, Laos, Jamaica, and Yemen — under what it described as the result of “robust high-level engagements” with the U.S. administration.
However, this relocation raises profound ethical and legal questions. None of the individuals are citizens of Eswatini, and their transfer appears to be part of a broader U.S. strategy to send deportees to so-called “third countries” when their nations of origin refuse repatriation.
Human rights advocates argue that this practice violates core international norms. By deporting individuals to countries with no legal obligation to accept or protect them, the U.S. risks placing them in environments where their basic rights are not guaranteed.
In the case of Eswatini, concerns are particularly grave: the monarchy has been repeatedly accused of using violent repression against dissent, with 2021 protests met by lethal force and dissidents imprisoned under questionable charges.
Even as Eswatini’s government insists it is following diplomatic protocols and upholding human rights standards, its record tells a more troubling story. Rights groups have documented political persecution, harsh prison conditions, and systemic denial of due process within the country.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reportedly been asked to assist in relocating the detainees to their home countries, but no timeline or guarantees have been provided.
Meanwhile, critics in the U.S. point to the Trump administration’s rush to deport, often giving detainees little to no notice or opportunity to challenge their removal — a potential violation of their constitutional right to due process.
A recent memo leaked to the press revealed that the administration allows deportations with as little as six hours’ notice, even when credible diplomatic assurances against torture are lacking.
The deportations to Eswatini are just one example of a broader pattern, including the similar controversial transfers to El Salvador, South Sudan, and proposed removals to Libya. As legal experts and human rights defenders warn, these actions not only endanger individuals but also erode the global commitment to safeguarding human dignity and legal accountability.
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Source: Africafeeds.com
