Migrants Face Solitary Confinement in Eswatini After US Deportation
Deportees to Southern Africa Held Indefinitely Amid Human Rights Concerns
Five migrants deported by the United States under a controversial third-country program are being held in solitary confinement in Eswatini, a small southern African nation, with their release timeline unclear.
Uncertain Future for Deported Individuals
Eswatini’s government spokesperson, **Thabile Mdluli**, confirmed the solitary confinement for the five men, who were reportedly convicted of serious crimes in the U.S., including murder and child rape. The specific correctional facilities remain undisclosed due to security concerns.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated that the men, citizens of Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen, and Laos, could not be returned to their home countries. Local media reports indicate they are being held at the Matsapha Correctional Complex.
UN Agency Denies Involvement
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency focused on human rights in migration, stated it was not involved in the deportations and had not been contacted to assist with the men’s repatriation.
“As always, IOM stands ready to support Member States, upon request and where operationally feasible, in line with its humanitarian mandate,” an official from the organisation told Reuters.
Program’s Troubled Past
The deportations represent a continuation of a Trump administration policy to send individuals to third countries with which they have no ties, a program previously stalled by legal challenges. This practice has drawn international criticism, particularly when aimed at nations facing political instability or human rights crises.
The U.S. State Department’s human rights report on Eswatini, an absolute monarchy, details credible reports of arbitrary killings, torture, and cruel treatment by the government. Prison conditions in the country are also described as problematic, with overcrowding and poor facilities.
In a similar instance earlier this month, the U.S. deported eight men to South Sudan, a nation grappling with political instability and a severe hunger crisis. Those individuals were reportedly held in converted shipping containers for weeks before their arrival. Additionally, over 200 Venezuelan men deported to El Salvador have been held in the notorious mega-prison Cecot, where reports of torture are prevalent.
The terms of the agreement between the U.S. and Eswatini for accepting the deportees remain classified, with Eswatini stating it resulted from months of negotiations. South Sudan has also not disclosed details of its agreement with the U.S.
According to a 2023 report by the U.S. Department of State, Eswatini’s government has been implicated in credible reports of extrajudicial killings and torture. The U.S. administration’s policy of sending migrants to third countries, especially those with human rights concerns, has been a subject of international alarm.
