A diplomatic rift has emerged after Eswatini pushed back against US claims that “uniquely barbaric” ex-convicts from Vietnam, Jamaica, Yemen, Laos, and Cuba had been deported permanently to Eswatini. The US had framed the move as a landmark third-country deportation under President Trump’s expanded immigration policy, claiming the home countries refused to accept the individuals’ return. However, Eswatini clarified it is merely serving as a transit point and is working with the US and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to repatriate the deportees to their respective countries of origin. To further complicate matters, the IOM denied involvement in the deportation process. The incident exposes the diplomatic and logistical challenges of enforcing third-country removals and signals a possible strain in global cooperation on immigration.
Business Insider Africa
