The US has deported five individuals labeled as "criminal illegal aliens" to Eswatini, following President Trump's intensified strategy on immigration. According to Tricia McLaughlin, an official with the US Homeland Security, the deportees include citizens from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Cuba, and Yemen, each with convictions for serious crimes, including child rape and murder.
McLaughlin referred to them as "depraved monsters" who had been a danger to American communities. She announced the successful deportation via social media. This flight comes as the US administration continues to face pushback overseas, with various countries hesitating to accept deportees. For example, Nigeria has recently declined to accept Venezuelan deportees from the US, citing its own pressing issues.
Trump's focus on deportation was prominent during his election campaign, receiving support from various voter groups, including some Hispanic communities. In addition to sending individuals to Eswatini, the US has deported to nations like El Salvador and Costa Rica and has sought to resume deportations to other countries, including Rwanda and Moldova.
There is no public response yet from Eswatini about the deportation, a tiny African country surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique, currently ruled by King Mswati III since 1986. The recent actions by the Trump administration have reinvigorated discussions on the ethical implications of deporting individuals to third-party nations, especially when those nations may not be prepared or willing to accept them.
