Washington, D.C. – July 16, 2025
In a highly unusual development, U.S. immigration authorities have deported five undocumented migrants from Asian and Caribbean countries to the Kingdom of Eswatini, a small, landlocked nation in Southern Africa. The move has sparked confusion and concern among international human rights groups and immigration advocates.
According to sources within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the individuals — whose nationalities include Bangladesh, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic — were part of a group detained for immigration violations earlier this year. Officials claim the deportation to Eswatini was arranged due to “logistical and diplomatic constraints,” though details remain unclear.
“This is a highly irregular transfer,” said Amelia Hart, a policy analyst with the Global Migration Watch. “Eswatini has no formal repatriation agreements with any of the countries involved, nor with the United States for third-country deportations.”
Legal experts warn that the deportees could be left stateless or stranded in a country with which they have no legal or cultural ties. Critics have also questioned whether the move violates international protocols on the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers.
U.S. authorities have not disclosed the legal basis for sending the migrants to Eswatini, only confirming that the individuals had exhausted all legal avenues for staying in the country.
Meanwhile, the government of Eswatini has acknowledged receiving the group but has not commented on their legal status or future plans for relocation.
Human rights organizations are now calling for urgent intervention and clarification, arguing that deporting individuals to a third country without due process undermines international migration norms and puts lives at risk.
