Credited from: REUTERS
A second 'third-country' deportation flight from the United States to Eswatini landed on Monday, with roughly ten deportees on board after an initial group of five sent in July, though some reports suggest as many as 11 could be involved. Eswatini had said it would receive up to 11 more deportees during October, but exact numbers were not confirmed. The latest flight included nationalities that were not disclosed by authorities, while Tin Thanh Nguyen, a U.S.-based lawyer, said the aircraft carried three Vietnamese nationals, one from the Philippines, one from Cambodia, and five others, with the flights continuing a broader pattern of U.S. deportations to African and other third countries. Rights groups have criticized the program for sending deportees to countries where due process may be limited, and the U.S. said the people sent were criminals in many cases. The information about these specifics and the ongoing pattern of transfers were reported across Reuters, Al Jazeera, and africanews.
according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and africanews.Several issues highlighted by the latest flight center on access to detainees and the ability of lawyers to communicate with their clients. Tin Thanh Nguyen, the U.S.-based lawyer who represents some of the deportees, said he could not contact the individuals or their local counsel because the Eswatini government blocks attorney access. He reiterated that he was representing migrants who had been detained or previously deported to Eswatini, and he noted the difficulty in coordinating with them during the process. These remarks about attorney access and detainee treatment are echoed by Reuters, Al Jazeera, and africanews, which together document the ongoing legal and human-rights concerns raised by the case.
according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and africanews.Beyond the latest flight, the broader push to relocate deportees to third countries continues to draw scrutiny. The White House and Trump administration officials have argued that those deported have committed serious crimes, and the United States has highlighted prior transfers to Eswatini as part of a wider strategy to manage immigration. The program has also extended to other nations such as South Sudan, Ghana, and Rwanda, with activists and rights groups challenging the legality and humanitarian implications of the arrangements. Reuters, Al Jazeera, and africanews detail these developments and the ongoing resistance and litigation surrounding the agreements.
according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and africanews.