United States Deports Latin American Migrants to Eswatini

The Federal government of the United States deported two Latin American third-country nationals to Eswatini on August 27. The arrivals are part of a broader immigration crackdown by the administration of Donald Trump, which has seen more than 30 individuals from countries including Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, and Yemen deported to the Southern African kingdom since July 2025.

The deportations are governed by a bilateral agreement in which the United States provided Eswatini approximately $5.1 million. In exchange, Eswatini agreed to accept up to 160 deportees and use the funds to strengthen its border and migration management capacity. The government of Eswatini maintains that these individuals are in the country temporarily while awaiting return to their countries of origin.

Legal representatives and rights groups have challenged the program, alleging that some deportees are being detained in Eswatini despite having already completed their criminal sentences in the United States.