A group of 10 migrants deported from the United States arrived early Monday in Eswatini, according to local authorities. This group adds to more than 40 deportees sent to various African countries since July under a controversial deportation program.
Details on the Deportees’ Arrival
The latest deportees arrived after their flight left Alexandria, Louisiana, and made stops in Puerto Rico, Senegal, and Angola. A lawyer representing two of the deportees confirmed their arrival and noted they were previously held in immigration detention.
The Eswatini government announced that the deportees are in good health and are being accommodated in one of the country’s correctional facilities. Specific details about their nationalities or holding locations were not provided.
Concerns and Legal Issues
Four men from Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and Yemen, who were deported in July, have been held in a maximum-security prison in Eswatini for nearly three months without charges. Their lawyers assert this detention is illegal.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has previously emphasized its goal of removing criminal aliens from the U.S. The government of Eswatini has faced protests regarding the treatment of deportees and has been challenged in court for detaining individuals without charges.
Background on US Deportation Agreements
The U.S. has arranged deportation deals with several African countries, including Eswatini. Reports indicate a payment of $5.1 million is involved for accepting up to 160 deportees, raising human rights concerns.
Alongside Eswatini, the U.S. has sent deportees to South Sudan, Rwanda, and Ghana, with troubling reports regarding conditions in detention centers. Rights groups criticize this deportation program for jeopardizing migrants’ due process.
