The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed the deportation of five criminal illegal aliens to Eswatini, the last absolute monarchy in Africa. The deportees, originating from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Cuba, and Yemen, were convicted of heinous crimes, including child rape and murder.
The DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin described the deportees as “uniquely barbaric”, stating that their home countries had refused to take them back. In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), McLaughlin detailed their convictions, emphasizing that these individuals had been “terrorizing American communities”.
“A safe third-country deportation flight to Eswatini in Southern Africa has landed,” McLaughlin announced, adding, “They are off of American soil.” The African kingdom of Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, has yet to comment on the arrival of the deportees.
Eswatini Named as a Deportation Destination for Criminal Aliens
Media reports had previously identified Eswatini as a potential third-country deportation destination for the US. The small, landlocked nation, bordered by South Africa and Mozambique, has been ruled by King Mswati III since 1986.
This deportation follows a recent US Supreme Court decision allowing the Trump administration to resume sending migrants to countries where they have no direct ties. Earlier this month, eight migrants were deported to South Sudan under similar circumstances.
The Trump administration intensified its immigration crackdown, deporting individuals not only to their home countries but also to third nations. Rwanda, Benin, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, and Moldova have all been named as potential deportation destinations in media reports.
Previously, the US had already deported individuals to El Salvador and Costa Rica. Meanwhile, South Sudan recently accepted eight deported men, holding them in a civilian facility in Juba under police supervision. Only one was a South Sudanese national.
In April, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked all visas for South Sudanese passport holders, accusing the country of failing to accept repatriated citizens in a “timely manner”. It remains unclear whether this policy has since changed.
Last week, Nigeria rejected pressure from the Trump administration to accept Venezuelan deportees or third-country prisoners from the US.
Trump’s Mass Deportation Pledge Remains a Key Policy Focus
President Donald Trump’s campaign promise to conduct mass deportations has been a cornerstone of his immigration agenda. His administration has expanded enforcement beyond illegal immigrants, targeting student visa holders, suspending refugee admissions (except for white South Africans), and revoking temporary work permits granted under previous administrations.
To enforce these policies, the Trump administration has reinstated workplace immigration raids, a tactic paused under former President Joe Biden.
