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The five illegal immigrants who were sent off in a deportation plane to Africa earlier this week have reached Eswatini, causing outrage in the tiny nation.
The government of Eswatini has confirmed that the migrants are currently being held in its prisons. They have been put in isolated cells, as authorities acknowledged “widespread concerns” about the migrants’ arrival in the country.
Eswatini’s acting government spokesperson has, however, said that the arrival of deportees from the US was a result of several high-level talks between the two countries for several months.
“A safe third country deportation flight to Eswatini in Southern Africa has landed — This flight took individuals so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back,” US Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said earlier this week.
Is US putting ‘pressure’ on Africa?
According to a CNN report, the Trump administration is pressing more African countries to accept its deported illegal immigrants. Some of the countries that have been approached till now include Nigeria.
The Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, last week, said, “The US is mounting considerable pressure on African countries to accept Venezuelans to be deported from the US, some straight out of prison.”
Earlier this month, a memo by a top Trump administration official said that immigration officials may deport illegal immigrants to countries other than their home nations with as little as six hours’ notice.
Why is Eswatini on boil?
Eswatini’s decision to accommodate deportees from the US has faced widespread public backlash, driven by concerns over security risks and frustration with the US labelling the country as a ‘safe third country.
The country’s Opposition party PUDEMO has said that accepting deportees from the US “poses a serious risk to our already vulnerable communities,” which are “battling a severe scourge.”
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View All“Our country must not be treated as a dumping ground for those deemed unfit to live elsewhere,” the group said in a statement sent to CNN.
Where is Eswatini?
Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is a small, landlocked country in Southern Africa bordered by South Africa and Mozambique.
While it has made strides in education and health, Eswatini faces challenges such as high unemployment and one of the world’s highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates. Its economy largely depends on agriculture, manufacturing, and regional trade.
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