Plane with US deportees lands in Eswatini reports lawyer
Title: Eswatini Receives Latest Group of Migrants Deported from the U.S.
A recent flight carrying 10 migrants deported from the United States landed in Eswatini, marking a continuation of a controversial third-country deportation program initiated by the Trump administration. This recent arrival adds to over 40 deportees sent to Africa since July under agreements between the U.S. and at least five African nations.
Eswatini Hosts New Arrivals: Immigration Details and Conditions
According to the Eswatini government, the deportees have been securely placed in a local correctional facility, though details such as their specific nationalities have not been disclosed. The authorities confirmed that the new arrivals are in good health and are currently undergoing standard admission procedures.
Deeper Insight into the Deportations: U.S. Legal Perspectives
Tin Thanh Nguyen, a U.S.-based lawyer, represents two Vietnamese nationals from the recent group and traces their journey from an immigration detention center in Louisiana to Eswatini. Nguyen, aided by the rights organization Human Rights First, confirmed their flight’s route which included stopovers in Puerto Rico, Senegal, and Angola.
Ongoing Legal Struggles and Humanitarian Concerns
The imprisonment of earlier deportees in Eswatini, including nationals from Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and Yemen, brings to light ongoing legal and humanitarian concerns. Despite a court ruling granting an Eswatini-based lawyer access to these detainees, the government’s appeal has delayed visits.
Previously deported individuals, labeled as convicted criminals by U.S. authorities, have been detained in Eswatini’s Matsapha prison for nearly three months without charges. Amid this, a Jamaican national from the initial group was repatriated last month, highlighting varied outcomes for deportees.
Global Response: International Rights and Financial Agreements
International organizations have expressed dismay over the program, citing the potential denial of due process for deportees in receiving nations. Documents reviewed by Human Rights Watch indicate a $5.1 million agreement between the U.S. and Eswatini, allowing the latter to accept up to 160 deportees.
- Other countries participating in similar agreements include South Sudan, Rwanda, and Ghana, with an unconfirmed arrangement involving Uganda.
- In Ghana, legal action has been initiated by 11 of the 14 deportees against the government due to reported inhumane conditions.
The secrecy surrounding these deportation agreements continues to draw criticism as rights organizations demand transparency and improved conditions for deported migrants.
