US deportations to Eswatini spark security fears in South Africa

South Africa has expressed “deep concern” to the Kingdom of Eswatini following confirmation that a group of dangerous criminals deported from the United States has arrived in the neighbouring country.

The government warned that their presence so close to South Africa’s borders could pose serious risks to national security and undermine its immigration policy.

The announcement of the deportations came from the United States Department of Homeland Security, indicating that individuals from several countries, some with convictions for serious offenses and crimes, arrived in Eswatini on a special flight.

Thabile Mdluli, acting spokesperson for the Government of Eswatini, confirmed the arrival of these individuals, with the potential of more criminals of this profile to follow. 

South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) acknowledged the Eswatini-USA joint statement on collaborating to transit inmates to their home countries.

However, Dirco also “noted that the countries of origin of these deportees are unlikely to receive them”.

“Whilst respecting the sovereign decision of the Government of Eswatini… South Africa is deeply concerned,” said Dirco.

This includes concerns “about the profile of these individuals and the potential adverse impact on South Africa’s national security and immigration policy, given the geographical proximity between the two sisterly countries.”

Eswatini’s government had previously confirmed in July that it received five individuals deported from the US under President Donald Trump.

Eswatini spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said that these deportations were “the result of months of robust high-level engagements.”

Mdluli said that “the five prisoners are in the country and are housed in Correctional facilities within isolated units, ‘where similar offenders are kept’”.

“As a responsible member of the global community, the Kingdom of Eswatini adheres to international agreements and diplomatic protocols regarding the repatriation of individuals, ensuring that due process and respect for human rights is followed”.

On the US side, Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson from the US Department of Homeland Security, revealed the deportations to Eswatini, identifying the individuals as citizens of Laos, Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, and Yemen.

McLaughlin asserted on social media that “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”.

She further stated that these deportees had been convicted of serious crimes, including murder, child rape, and assault, referring to them as “depraved monsters” who had “been terrorising American communities”.

Dirco spokesperson Chrispin Phiri told Newsday that the US has had no engagements with South Africa to take in deportees.

“The South African government will continue to engage with the Kingdom of Eswatini,” he added.

Trump’s deportation push

The deportations are part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to deport foreign nationals to third-party countries when their home countries reportedly will not accept them.

The Trump administration has deported alleged criminals to third-party countries with troubling human rights records, including El Salvador, South Sudan, and Eswatini.

In one case, about 200 Venezuelans were sent to El Salvador, where they were imprisoned in harsh conditions, with the US reportedly paying nearly $6 million for their incarceration.

Deportation plans to Libya were halted by a court order, while a flight to South Sudan was diverted to Djibouti before the Supreme Court later allowed the deportation to proceed.

Critics, including some left-leaning US Supreme Court justices, condemned the moves as unlawful and inhumane.

Similar concerns have been raised about deportations to Eswatini, an absolute monarchy accused of violently suppressing dissent.

Eswatini has defended its decision to accept the deportees, citing long-standing bilateral relations with the United States.

“The Kingdom of Eswatini and the United States of America have enjoyed fruitful bilateral relations spanning over five decades,” the Eswatini government stated.

They added that “as such, every agreement entered into is done with meticulous care and consideration, putting the interests of both nations at the forefront.”