Five Foreign Nationals Deported by Trump Held Indefinitely in Eswatini

Mbabane, July 18, 2025 — Five foreign nationals deported from the United States under the Trump administration are being held indefinitely in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) in what human rights observers describe as a disturbing case of indefinite solitary confinement.

The men — citizens of Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen, and Laos — were transferred by U.S. immigration authorities after their home countries refused to accept them, citing the severity of their criminal convictions. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security described the five as “individuals so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back,” noting their convictions include murder and child rape.

According to Thabile Mdluli, spokesperson for the Eswatini government, the men are being held “in solitary confinement indefinitely until arrangements are made for their return to their home countries with the help of the United Nations.”

While local media report the men are housed at the Matsapha Correctional Complex, outside Mbabane, which includes the kingdom’s maximum-security prison, Mdluli declined to confirm the location, citing “security concerns.”

Conflicting Accounts Over Return Plans

Homeland Security’s comments, describing the deportees as effectively stateless, appear to contradict Eswatini’s assertion that the men would eventually be sent home — raising questions about how long they might remain in detention.

The Eswatini government admitted that there is currently “no timeline” for their repatriation. Officials said they are relying on the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) to facilitate their return.

However, the IOM told journalists it had not been approached and was not currently involved in the case, but signaled its willingness to assist in line with its humanitarian mandate if asked.

Human Rights Concerns

The indefinite use of solitary confinement in Eswatini’s prisons has drawn condemnation from human rights advocates. According to Penal Reform International, extended isolation can cause serious mental health issues such as depression, paranoia, psychosis, and heightened risks of torture or mistreatment going undetected.

“It can in itself constitute torture and ill-treatment, particularly where it is prolonged or indefinite,” the NGO warned in a statement on Thursday.

The deportation of these men is part of a wider pattern. Since the U.S. Supreme Court removed some restrictions on deportations to countries where individuals lack significant ties, the U.S. has sent migrants to places including South Sudan, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Panama.

The future of the five men currently held in Eswatini remains uncertain, with neither Washington nor Mbabane offering clear answers about when — or if — they will leave the kingdom.

Cameroon Concord International Desk