U.S. Winds Up Deportation Strategy, Sending Convicted Criminals to Eswatini

The U.S. government has deported five individuals deemed "barbaric" criminals to Eswatini, continuing President Trump's aggressive immigration policies. The deportees, previously rejected by their home countries, have been described as a threat to American communities. The move highlights a broader effort to manage illegal immigration through increased deportations and international cooperation.

The U.S. government has officially deported five individuals, labeled as "criminal illegal aliens," to the southern African kingdom of Eswatini, as part of an ongoing strategy by President Donald Trump to intensify immigration enforcement. U.S. Homeland Security Department Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin described the individuals as having been convicted of serious crimes, including child rape and murder, and stated that their home countries had refused to take them back.

"This flight took individuals so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back," McLaughlin noted in a post on social media platform X. This action follows previous attempts to deport eight migrants to South Sudan after that country agreed to accept them, but the situation eventually led to the revocation of visas for South Sudanese passport holders by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Nigeria, meanwhile, has rejected U.S. pressure to accept Venezuelan deportees, indicating complexities in international cooperation on deportation requests.

Deportation has been a central focus of Trump’s presidency, with the approach drawing support from various segments of the U.S. electorate, including considerable backing from Hispanic voters. However, the scope of the administration's efforts to curb immigration has widened significantly, targeting not only undocumented immigrants but also those on student visas and temporary work permits, and restricting refugee admissions except for certain demographics.

In recent weeks, U.S. immigration authorities have reinstated workplace raids—actions that were previously curbed under the Biden administration—as part of heightened enforcement. McLaughlin posted additional details on social media, describing the deported individuals as "depraved monsters" who have harmed American communities, and confirmed the successful arrival of the flight to Eswatini.

Eswatini remains largely silent on its acceptance of these deportees, although prior media reports have indicated it was considered a potential destination for U.S. deportees. Formerly known as Swaziland, the country is led by King Mswati III and is Africa's last remaining absolute monarchy.

The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling has paved the way for the Trump administration to resume deportations to countries aside from the deportees' nations of origin. Reports suggest that other countries, including Rwanda, Benin, Angola, and Moldova, are being considered for future deportations, indicating an expanding reach of U.S. immigration policy across the globe. The U.S. has already sent deportees to countries like El Salvador and Costa Rica as part of this renewed focus on aggressive immigration measures.