The southern African kingdom of Eswatini has accepted its fourth group of individuals deported from the United States, receiving 11 people this week under a bilateral agreement to host third-country nationals. The government stated that the group, primarily from other African countries, would remain in Eswatini temporarily while their rights are protected.
Acting government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said in a statement that the fundamental rights of these third-country nationals would be respected and protected in accordance with the laws of Eswatini and its international obligations. Measures are in place to safeguard Eswatini's security and that of its residents during the deportees' stay.
Under a broader U.S. crackdown on immigration, the administration of former President Donald Trump has deported thousands of individuals to countries that are not their own, according to advocates. Eswatini, a country of approximately 1.2 million people bordering South Africa, began accepting third-country nationals deported from the U.S. in 2025. The latest arrivals are the fourth group received under this arrangement.
The Trump administration has also sent third-country deportees to countries including the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Congo, seeking destinations for migrants who cannot be repatriated directly. The specific terms of Eswatini's agreement with Washington, including details about the deportees' nationalities, legal status, or length of stay, have not been disclosed by the government.
Eswatini has become one of the most prominent participants in Africa in the U.S. third-country deportation program. The arrangement has faced criticism from human rights groups due to a lack of transparency and parliamentary oversight. Civic groups in Eswatini have legally challenged the practice of holding foreign nationals in prison without charge. Eswatini officials have indicated that the deported individuals could be held for up to a year before repatriation.
Human rights lawyer Mzwandile Masuku has warned that the continued transfers reflect weak institutional accountability and risk becoming normalized internationally. To date, only two deportees previously sent to Eswatini have departed the country, returning to Cambodia and Jamaica. The Eswatini government has defended the agreement, stating it aligns with the country’s humanitarian values while upholding its sovereignty and national laws.