Trump’s Third-Country Deportation Policy Sparks Outrage in Africa’s Last Absolute Monarchy

The U.S. has fiercely escalated its deportation policy under President Trump’s second term, sending five foreign-born convicted criminals to Eswatini, a small landlocked nation in southern Africa. The third-country deportation program had remained largely secretive until now.

Reports indicate that the men, citizens of Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen, Laos, and Vietnam, faced convictions for crimes such as murder and child rape. Their home countries refused to accept their return, prompting the U.S. to strike a little-known deal with Eswatini.

What exactly is Trump’s third-country deportation policy?

The policy allows the U.S. to deport individuals to nations where they hold no citizenship or prior residency. Following a Supreme Court ruling that removed previous restrictions, the administration ramped up third-country deportation efforts.

Earlier this month, eight migrants were deported to South Sudan under similar conditions. Civil society groups condemned these removals as legally and morally dubious.

Did you know?
Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is Africa’s last absolute monarchy and has been ruled by King Mswati III since 1986 under a system where political parties are mostly banned.

How has the Eswatini government responded to accepting foreign deportees?

Eswatini’s absolute monarchy has remained silent about the arrival of the five men. Pro-democracy group SWALIMO said the government’s silence posed a risk to transparency, accountability, and the safety of Eswatini citizens.

"An administration that has a record of imprisoning dissenters is keeping us in the dark," expressed SWALIMO's Ingiphile Dlamini. "This move could further strain our fragile institutions."

ALSO READ | Trump Demands Justice for ‘Mortgage Fraud’ as Schiff Denies Explosive Accusation

U.S. quietly expands immigration purge through controversial African partnerships

According to Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, the five men were “so uniquely barbaric” that even their countries of origin wouldn’t take them back. She celebrated the deportation as a win, posting mugshots and conviction data online.

But organizations watching U.S. immigration policy call the deportations “reckless outsourcing.” Legal experts say deporting people to states where they lack any legal status opens major human rights concerns.

Eswatini faces backlash as it absorbs high-risk deportees without clear plan

Known for its poor infrastructure, rigid monarchy, and limited legal protections, Eswatini may be ill-equipped to handle deportees with violent criminal backgrounds. As of now, their legal status remains unknown.

With civic unrest and a recent history of violent crackdowns on protestors, critics question whether a country accused of political assassinations can responsibly manage such high-risk individuals.

While the U.S. seeks more African countries to absorb deportees, human rights organizations globally are demanding full transparency. “This is not about national security anymore,” said a senior African Union official. “It’s about dignity, legality, and fairness.”

The deportation flight to Eswatini may have cleared legal hurdles in the U.S., but it has opened new questions and ignited new tensions across two continents.