Trump administration restarts third country deportations with flight to Eswatini

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

July 16, 2025, 6:52 AM EDT


The Department of Homeland Security resumed third country deportation flights on Tuesday by deporting five immigrant detainees, all from different countries, to the small nation of Eswatini in Southern Africa.

The five men from Vietnam, Laos, Jamaica, Cuba and Yemen have criminal backgrounds ranging from murder to sexual assault, according to a social media post by the DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.

“This flight took individuals so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back,” McLaughlin wrote. It’s not clear if the men are in law enforcement custody in Eswatini. Mclaughlin told NBC News, “That’s up to Eswatini.”

The landlocked country is located between South Africa and Mozambique and occupies an area slightly smaller than New Jersey. Representatives for the government of Eswatini and their embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-admin-restarts-third-country-deportations-flight-eswatini-rcna219041

---

I had to go look up where "Eswatini" was because I had never heard of it. It is actually the renamed "Swaziland" in southeastern Africa. The ruling Monarch officially renamed the country in 2018 during the 50th anniversary year of their independence from British colonial rule.

As a side note, I wouldn't be surprised that like we did with those sent to El Salvador, we may be "paying" these countries to take people, which sounds like some form of human trafficking to me, but I haven't seen anything explicitly mentioning that outside of our arrangement with El Salvador.

[twodogsbarking]

1. Trump is pissing off a lot of people. Only one needs to get even.

[riversedge]

2. Poverty and underemployment and HIV are persistant problems......

NO doubt, Trump adm. paid them a pretty penny to take these people.




Google:
AI Overview
Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) is a lower-middle-income country with a GDP per capita of around $3,987, according to the U.S. Department of State (.gov). While the country has seen some economic growth, it also faces persistent poverty and high unemployment rates. Eswatini's economy is closely linked to South Africa, its major trading partner.
Here's a more detailed look at Eswatini's economic situation:

GDP per capita:
Eswatini's GDP per capita, a measure of average income per person, is relatively low compared to many other countries. In 2022, it was around $3,987, according to the World Bank.

Poverty and Unemployment:
Despite some economic growth, poverty remains a significant issue in Eswatini. The World Bank reports that over half of the population lives below the national poverty line, with a substantial portion living in extreme poverty. Unemployment, particularly youth unemployment, is also a major concern.
Economic Structure:
Eswatini's economy is largely based on services and industry, with a significant contribution from manufacturing. Agriculture, while still important, employs a smaller portion of the workforce.
Trade Dependence:
Eswatini is heavily reliant on trade with South Africa, which accounts for a large percentage of its exports and imports.
Economic Growth:
Eswatini has experienced fluctuations in economic growth. While it saw strong growth in 2023, it also faced periods of slower growth and economic challenges related to the pandemic and global economic conditions.
Social Challenges:
Eswatini also faces challenges related to its high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate and the impact of the disease on the workforce.

[SpankMe]

3. Exporting criminals?

Didn't Trump promote bullshit about other countries sending us rapists and murderers? Didn't he speechify about other countries emptying their prisons and sending these "undesirables" here?

And now he's doing it?

Hypocrisy very much?

[Marthe48]

7. Always a good bet that if felon says someone else is the perp

it means he is the perp. Always.

[Bayard]

4. How do they determine these men are criminals?

Background checks? That would take 5 minutes, and that's too long to wait for them. Heresay? More likely.

Do any of these men speak Eswatini? I suspect they are immediately executed. trump just sends them there, and says--take care of them, (wink wink nudge nudge.)

[SickOfTheOnePct]

9. Pretty sure they had been convicted...

...and deported once released from prison.

[Solly Mack]

5. ...

[Haggis 4 Breakfast]

6. Raise your hand if you didn't know where Eswatini is.

C'mon, fess up.

In 2017, it was renamed from Swaziland.

[Marthe48]

8. I didn't

I have a friend who travels a lot, but even they haven't mentioned Eswatini.