In a truly alarming turn of events, the US has started deporting migrants to Eswatini, Africa’s last remaining absolute monarchy. This move comes amid a Supreme Court decision allowing the government to deport people to third countries. The US Department of Homeland Security recently announced that the first flight of deported immigrants has successfully landed in Eswatini. This tiny, landlocked country is located in the shadow of South Africa and Mozambique.
Eswatini, also known as Swaziland, is an absolute monarchy ruled by King Mswati III since 1986. At 57 years of age, King Mswati III continues to face severe international condemnation for his extravagant lifestyle. He is simultaneously under many allegations of abuses against human rights. With more migrants coming into Eswatini, sensitivity of the country’s capacity to host them becomes a concern. Most of these people didn’t have a chance to undergo appropriate due process prior to their deportation.
That recent flight would continue a controversial policy started during the Trump administration. On July 4, the US achieved its eighth deportation of migrants to South Sudan. Our nation hardly needs an example of a pernicious, prevailing, persistent war. Under existing rules, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) typically waits a minimum of 24 hours before intervening. They send a private notice of intended removal to the third country during that window. When the situation is urgent, this notice requirement can be cut down to as little as six hours.
Human rights advocates have long warned about the grave consequences of this practice and its attack on due process. To them, this is a fundamental injustice—as migrants deserve the opportunity to present their cases. They are able to prove the extreme dangers they would encounter if sent back to their native countries. The Supreme Court ruling in late June has prompted renewed scrutiny of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, which have been criticized for lacking adequate protections for deportees.
“A safe third country deportation flight to Eswatini in Southern Africa has landed. This flight took individuals so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back.” – Tricia McLaughlin
Tom Homan, a former acting director of ICE, commented on the potential outcomes for deported individuals, stating, “If we removed somebody to Sudan, they could stay there a week and leave, I don’t know.”