Amnesty International said the U.S. government unlawfully deported 11 migrants [1] to Eswatini on Friday.
The move signals an escalation in third-country deportation tactics by the administration of President Donald Trump. Critics argue these actions bypass standard asylum protections and place vulnerable populations in countries where they may lack legal status, or family ties.
The deportations took place in Mbabane, Eswatini [1, 2]. Amnesty International said the operation was a violation of international law, linking the event to broader immigration strategies currently being implemented by the U.S. government [1, 2].
An Amnesty International spokesperson said, "This latest deportation is unlawful and part of a cruel and racist anti‑immigrant policy" [1].
The organization highlighted that third-country removals often disregard the individual safety risks migrants face upon arrival in a nation that is not their home. The group said the current crackdown reflects a systemic disregard for human rights in favor of rapid removals [2].
U.S. officials have not issued a direct response to the specific allegations regarding the 11 individuals deported on Friday. The administration has previously defended its border and deportation policies as necessary for national security, and the rule of law [1, 2].
This incident follows a series of similar removals that have drawn scrutiny from international monitoring bodies. The use of Eswatini as a destination for third-country removals remains a point of contention among human rights advocates who argue such agreements are often coercive [2].
“"This latest deportation is unlawful and part of a cruel and racist anti‑immigrant policy."”
The use of third-country deportations allows the U.S. to remove individuals to nations other than their country of origin, often complicating the legal process for asylum seekers. By designating Eswatini as a destination, the administration is testing the viability of diplomatic agreements to shift the burden of migrant processing away from U.S. soil, a strategy that frequently clashes with international non-refoulement obligations.
