• The US has deported five individuals convicted of serious crimes to Eswatini.
• Deportees include nationals from Cuba, Jamaica, Laos, Vietnam, and Yemen.
• The Trump administration's policy to send immigrants to third countries has expanded amid legal changes.
• Eswatini’s government confirmed receipt of the deportees but raised concerns about potential human rights issues.
• Critics argue that deportations risk violating international law by sending individuals to countries with abusive practices.

The US Department of Homeland Security has confirmed the deportation of five men with serious criminal convictions to the small African nation of Eswatini. This action is part of President Trump's administration's expanded third-country deportation program, which comes after the US Supreme Court lifted restrictions on sending migrants to countries where they lack connections. According to Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, the deportees are "uniquely barbaric" individuals whose home countries, including Cuba, Jamaica, Laos, Vietnam, and Yemen, refused to take them back, citing their violent backgrounds, including convictions for murder and child rape, according to CBS News, TRT Global, and Reuters.

The deportation to Eswatini follows a similar flight earlier this month to South Sudan, demonstrating the Trump administration's aggressive deportation strategy. According to a memo from acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons, individuals could be deported with as little as six hours' notice in exigent circumstances. While standard procedures advise at least 24 hours notice, the administration's expedited policies raise significant concerns regarding due process and potential human rights violations, as pointed out by India Times and LA Times.

Eswatini’s government has confirmed the arrivals of these deported individuals but has not published specific agreements about receiving them. Thabile Mdluli, a spokesperson for the government, stated that the five men are housed in correctional facilities designated for similar offenders and emphasized the need to adhere to international agreements regarding repatriation. Critics remain skeptical of this commitment, noting the historical human rights abuses in Eswatini, including the suppression of political dissent, as detailed by Africa News and Al Jazeera.

Rights experts have raised alarms that deportations to countries like Eswatini could lead to torture or other inhumane treatment of those individuals, given the lack of transparency surrounding their legal statuses and potential risks they may face in the nation. Furthermore, the Trump administration's ongoing negotiations with various African nations to accept US deportees illustrates a broader commitment to aggressive immigration policies, often at the cost of individual rights and safety, as highlighted in multiple reports from The Hill and Le Monde.