Eswatini has received 10 people deported by the United States, despite a court challenge by rights groups seeking to block the transfers, officials said on Sunday.
It is the second group sent to the kingdom under the Trump administration’s hard-line immigration policy. The prison service said the 10 arrivals have been “securely accommodated” and pose no risk to the public. Government earlier said it had agreed to accept 11 people under a cooperation arrangement with Washington but did not explain why only 10 landed. Their names were not released.
In July, Eswatini accepted five deportees the US had described as “deprived monsters.” One has since been repatriated to Jamaica and two others are expected to be returned to their countries of origin, according to the government.
The BBC previously reported that US authorities had considered deporting Salvadoran national Kilmar Ábrego García to Eswatini amid a long-running immigration dispute. He denies US allegations of MS-13 membership. After being mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March and returned to the US, he was charged with human smuggling and pleaded not guilty. On Friday, a US federal judge said his prosecution could be “vindictive” and would hear more evidence before ruling. Eswatini officials did not say whether he was among the latest arrivals.
The transfers come a day before a case brought by the Southern African Litigation Centre and partner groups resumes in Mbabane. They argue the agreement with the US is unconstitutional “executive over-reach” that should have required parliamentary consent. Activists also protested outside the US embassy, calling the deal secretive and a setback for democratic accountability in a state where the king wields extensive power.
The government says it acted within its constitutional authority and that the charter allows such agreements with foreign governments. Prime Minister Russell Dlamini told parliament the matter was handled at “top clearance level.” Neighboring South Africa has voiced concern that deportees might cross the porous border; Eswatini’s acting government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said the group is being held in solitary confinement in a secure facility.
Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is a small landlocked country bordered by South Africa and Mozambique and has been ruled by King Mswati III since 1986.