In brief
Eswatini announces it will send five deportees, previously removed by the U.S., back to their home countries despite original refusals.
The small African nation of Eswatini has declared that it will repatriate five migrants who were recently deported by the United States. This announcement came just a day after U.S. officials mentioned that the migrants' countries of origin had declined to accept them. The deportees hail from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen, and Cuba, all of whom had been incarcerated in the U.S. for serious offenses, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security. This incident marks the inaugural third-country deportation from the U.S. following a recent Supreme Court ruling that allowed the Trump administration to proceed with this practice. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin indicated on X that the individuals were removed due to their home countries’ refusal to take them back. However, Eswatini's government spokesperson, Thabile Mdluli, has clarified that a collaboration with the U.S. and the International Organization for Migration will facilitate these deportees' return to their respective nations. Interestingly, the International Organization for Migration stated that it was neither involved in the U.S. removals nor had it been approached for assistance with the repatriation process.
