Full Breakdown
Eswatini Receives Fourth Group of U.S. Deportees Under Trump-Era Third-Country Program
7/10/2026, 4:07:27 PM
Fourth Group Arrives in the Kingdom
Eleven individuals, described by officials as “predominantly from African countries,” were transferred to Eswatini this week, marking the fourth batch of people deported from the United States under a bilateral agreement that began in 2025. The arrivals are expected to be housed at Matsapha Maximum Security Prison while their temporary stay is processed.
Origin of the Third-Country Deportation Program
The program was created by the administration of President Donald Trump to relocate migrants who could not be returned directly to their countries of origin. Since 2025, Eswatini, a nation of about 1.2 million people bordering South Africa, has agreed to host such third-country nationals. Other African destinations have included the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Official Statements from Eswatini Authorities
Acting government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli emphasized that the “fundamental rights of the third-country nationals will be respected and protected in accordance with the laws of the Kingdom of Eswatini and the Kingdom’s international obligations.” The government added that security measures are in place to protect residents and that the men may be repatriated after up to a year. Eswatini officials also framed the agreement as reflecting the country’s humanitarian values while respecting its sovereignty and national laws.
Criticism from Human Rights Advocates
Human-rights lawyer Mzwandile Masuku warned that the continued transfers “reflected weak institutional accountability” and could become “normalized internationally.” Civic groups have taken the government to court over the legality of detaining foreign nationals without charge, and advocates have criticized the lack of transparency and parliamentary oversight surrounding the secretive agreements. To date, only two previously transferred deportees have left Eswatini, returning to Cambodia and Jamaica.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The government reaffirms that, during their temporary stay in the Kingdom, the fundamental rights of the third-country nationals will be respected and protected in accordance with the laws of the Kingdom of Eswatini and the Kingdom’s international obligations,” — Thabile Mdluli, Acting Government Spokesperson
- “Human rights lawyer Mzwandile Masuku said the continued transfers reflected weak institutional accountability and warned the practice risked becoming normalized internationally.” — Mzwandile Masuku, Human Rights Lawyer
- “So far, only two deportees previously transferred to Eswatini have left the country, returning to Cambodia and Jamaica.” — Report
- “The Eswatini government has defended the agreement, saying it reflects the country’s humanitarian values while respecting its sovereignty and national laws.” — Report
