Residents of Eswatini have reacted with outrage after news came to light this week that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security conducted a third-country deportation flight to Eswatini, during which five convicted criminals were sent to the Southern African nation.
U.S. Homeland Security Department Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin posted on X on Tuesday, revealing the details of the five illegal immigrants, she says, are so “uniquely barbaric” that their home countries refused to take them back.
NEW: a safe third country deportation flight to Eswatini in Southern Africa has landed— This flight took individuals so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back.
These depraved monsters have been terrorizing American communities but thanks to @POTUS… pic.twitter.com/TsanIX8H4T
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) July 16, 2025
The five men are originally from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Cuba and Yemen, and they have been convicted of crimes ranging from child rape to murder.
Their deportation flight comes after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on deporting migrants to third countries.
After news of the deportations started spreading online, the Eswatini Government reassured residents that the arrival of the five third-country deportees poses no security threat.
In a statement released by Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli, the Government revealed that these deportees will eventually be repatriated to their respective countries after being housed temporarily in local correctional facilities.
“This exercise is the result of months of robust high-level engagements between the US Government & Eswatini. The 2 Governments will collaborate with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to facilitate the transit of these inmates to their countries of origin. The engagements considered every avenue, including rigorous risk assessments and careful consideration for the safety and security of citizens. The Kingdom of Eswatini and the United States of America have enjoyed fruitful bilateral relations spanning over five decades. As such, every agreement entered into is done with meticulous care and consideration, putting the interests of both nations at the forefront. As a responsible member of the global community, the Kingdom of Eswatini adheres to international agreements and diplomatic protocols regarding the repatriation of individuals, ensuring that due process and respect for human rights are followed.”
This seems to be in contradiction to the statement by Homeland Security’s McLaughlin, who asserted that their home countries did not want them back.
Citizens of Eswatini have reacted with anger, accusing the government of allowing Eswatini to be used as a dumping ground for violent criminals.
As a citizen of Eswatini I am beyond bemused and disgusted at this revelation. The country has no capacity at all to import and restrain such hardened criminals. This was also done under a cloud of secrecy without parliamentary involvement.
— Mr. Husband (@NamedInstigator) July 16, 2025
The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) has condemned the decision.
“These criminals are so dangerous and violent that their own countries of origin refused to take them back. According to the US Department of Homeland Security, these are convicted murderers, rapists and gang members, and they must be removed so that “they can never hurt another American victim. By implication, this means they must now hurt Swazis.”
In a statement, SSN Spokesperson Mfanafuthi Tsela labelled it a “deliberate act of collusion by two corrupt governments to dump America’s most violent criminals in one of the world’s poorest nations.”
Tsela says they demanded answers as to why the Mswati regime quietly agreed without consulting the nation or informing its own Parliament.
“Why? What was Mswati promised in return? The Swazi people deserve answers. Was this a paid-for deal or was it a political favour? Who agreed to it and under what terms and conditions?
This is an act of betrayal and is proof once again that the Tinkhundla regime does not prioritise the safety and well-being of the Swazi people. It has not only auctioned off national sovereignty, but it has turned Swaziland into a dumping ground for foreign governments looking to offload hardened criminals.”
The Swaziland Solidarity Network has called on all Swazis, at home and in the diaspora, to protest against this decision.
In late May, a deportation flight with eight migrants left Texas, reportedly intended for South Sudan. It sparked a legal battle that resulted in the men being held in Djibouti.
