In a significant move regarding immigration policy, the US government announced it has deported five migrants to Eswatini, previously known as Swaziland, after classifying them as "criminal illegal aliens." This cohort of deportees included individuals from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Cuba, and Yemen, all of whom had been convicted of serious crimes, including child rape and murder, according to Tricia McLaughlin, the US Homeland Security Department’s Assistant Secretary.
McLaughlin criticized the individuals’ actions as "uniquely barbaric," stating that their home countries had refused to take them back. This deportation flight marks a continuation of President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement strategy, which has gained traction among his supporters, including many from Hispanic communities.
Earlier in the month, the US managed to deport eight migrants to South Sudan after a series of delays, which raised questions about the willingness of certain countries to accept deportees. In response to the refusal of countries like Nigeria to accept Venezuelan deportees from the US, the administration has ramped up its enforcement strategies, including raids on workplaces that had been halted under the previous administration.
The five deported to Eswatini have been described as "depraved monsters" by McLaughlin, who claimed they were responsible for terrorizing American neighborhoods. The flight arrived in Eswatini, which remains under the rule of King Mswati III, who has not yet commented on this development. Eswatini's acceptance of deportees had been anticipated by media outlets, as the US considers various countries for the deportation of migrants.
As the Trump administration moves forward with its deportation policies, it has received legal backing from the US Supreme Court, which recently approved the resumption of deportations to countries that are not migrants’ countries of origin. Discussions about potential deportations to nations like Rwanda and others have surfaced, indicating a wide-ranging strategy that extends beyond immediate neighbors.
With the deportation policy entrenched amid ongoing domestic and international challenges, the impact on diplomatic relations and local communities remains to be seen.
