As the Trump administration intensifies its efforts against illegal immigration, countries like Eswatini, a little-known African monarchy, are starting to appear more frequently in the news. Border and immigration specialists suggest that these smaller nations may play a significant role in U.S. national security.
Since Inauguration Day, the number of deportations has surpassed 515,000, with projections suggesting it could hit 600,000 by the end of Trump’s first year, potentially breaking the record for deportations in a single year.
However, the administration has faced legal challenges that have slowed down the deportations. For example, Salvadoran national Kilmer Abrego Garcia, accused of being part of the MS-13 gang, has been able to delay his deportation by arguing that returning to his home country would jeopardize his safety.
Simon Hankinson, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, elaborated on the role of third countries during a recent discussion. He mentioned that the ability to deport immigrants claiming harm in their home country removes their de facto veto over deportation procedures. While U.S. immigration laws allow such deportations, some European nations face stricter constraints, leading to troubling situations.
“Even individuals with serious criminal backgrounds can remain in Europe with the right legal representation,” Hankinson noted, adding that the U.S. aims to avoid such predicaments.
According to him, U.S. law permits deportations to countries where individuals have lived previously or have had some form of protection, without the risk of torture or mistreatment.
Yet, in America, illegal immigrants continue to claim that they would face harm in third nations suggested for their deportation. Hankinson used the case of Abrego-Garcia to illustrate this point, explaining that despite an ordered deportation, he was to be sent to Eswatini after citing fears of mistreatment across 22 countries.
Some countries, like China, Russia, and India, have also occasionally refused to accept their nationals back, further complicating deportation efforts. As a result, Hankinson noted, the Trump administration is actively seeking new countries willing to accept deportees.
“The U.S. has leverage to encourage nations to take back their citizens,” he remarked, suggesting that such agreements could serve as a form of pressure.
So far, the Trump administration has deported countless individuals to third-party nations, including El Salvador, Rwanda, and Eswatini.
On September 5, the Department of Homeland Security informed Abrego-Garcia’s lawyer that he would be deported to Eswatini, given his stated fears of persecution.
Previously known as Swaziland, Eswatini is a small landlocked nation with about 1.2 million residents, ruled by King Mswati III, the last absolute monarch in Africa.
Hankinson believes that agreements like these can be mutually beneficial. While the U.S. tackles its illegal immigration issues, third countries could gain a stronger relationship with the U.S., possibly leading to increased trade and aid.
Even though the numbers being sent to these third countries are relatively small compared to those going back to their home countries, Hankinson is optimistic about expanding these operations.
“The Trump administration is likely keen on securing as many of these agreements as possible,” he said, emphasizing that individuals like Abrego-Garcia will eventually be deported despite declaring their inability to return to various countries.
Hankinson underscored the importance of this approach for national security, warning that allowing individuals to dictate their repatriation could create significant risks.
He expressed concern over the rising number of undocumented individuals allowed into the U.S. under the current administration, many of whom have criminal backgrounds that remain unknown. “These individuals are likely to pose a risk to the American people,” he pointed out, emphasizing that these agreements convey the message that deportation is inevitable.
