Five immigrants deported by the United States to Eswatini last month remain held in solitary confinement, a lawyer said Friday. The men, from Cuba, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen, and Vietnam, served their criminal sentences before their transfer under a secretive Trump-era deportation deal.
Sibusiso Nhlabatsi, representing the men, has been denied access to his clients in Eswatini’s maximum-security Matsapha prison. Nhlabatsi filed court papers demanding access, arguing it is unlawful to block legal representation for men detained for nearly two weeks.
“They have served their sentences,” Nhlabatsi said. “Why keep them in prison afterward?” Eswatini authorities say the men will remain isolated until deported to their home countries, a process that could take up to a year.
The detainees have had no contact with family or visitors, though prison officials reportedly plan to set up communication devices. This unfolding case casts a shadow over Eswatini, one of the world’s last absolute monarchies, where political dissent faces harsh repression.
The U.S. deportation program has faced criticism for deals with nations like Eswatini and South Sudan, countries with poor human rights records. In July, eight immigrants labeled as violent criminals were deported to South Sudan, sparking legal battles and international concern.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security described the five men as convicted of serious crimes, including murder and child rape, calling them “uniquely barbaric.” However, Eswatini’s government has refused to confirm detention details and declined comment on the allegations, citing security and legal processes.
Activists demand transparency on the U.S.-Eswatini deportation agreement, but the government labels it “classified,” deepening concerns over justice and human rights. As the men wait in limbo, their fate highlights tensions between immigration policy, international diplomacy, and human rights protections.