A Cuban national, deported under the Trump administration to Eswatini—the last absolute monarchy in Africa—has been confined in a maximum-security prison for seven weeks without charges and without access to legal counsel, as reported by the AP on Tuesday. This incident is part of a group of five men transferred in July to the African nation under Washington's controversial third-country deportation program, criticized by human rights organizations for its secrecy and arbitrariness.
The five deportees, including the Cuban and individuals from Yemen, Jamaica, Laos, and Vietnam, are held at the Matsapha Correctional Complex, near Mbabane, Eswatini's capital. Lawyers attempting to visit them have been denied access by prison authorities, who claim that only the U.S. embassy can grant such permission. "Since when does the U.S. embassy have jurisdiction over Eswatini's national prisons?" questioned attorney Alma David, highlighting the deportees' lack of knowledge about the reasons for their detention or its duration.
The Cuban's Background
In July, the Cuban was described by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as one of the "criminals so heinous that their home countries refused to accept them." Official records indicate he served time in the U.S. for first-degree murder, assaulting a police officer, theft, and reckless driving, and was identified as a member of the Latin Kings gang. Although Cuba is obliged by immigration agreements to accept its nationals, Havana routinely refuses those with severe criminal records, leading to his deportation to a third country with no cultural or legal ties.
However, the situation in Eswatini is not unique. In May, two Cubans, José Manuel Rodríguez Quiñones and Enrique Arias Hierro, were sent to South Sudan, one of the world's most unstable nations, after Cuba denied them entry. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld third-country deportations, even when migrants claim risks of torture or death, allowing the White House to expand this practice. Since then, Washington has deported migrants to South Sudan, Eswatini, and Rwanda, and is negotiating agreements with other African nations like Uganda.
Uncertainty and Insecurity
The future for the Cuban and the others detained in Eswatini remains uncertain. Authorities in the African kingdom, ruled by King Mswati III since 1986, confirmed the five men are held in isolation, in the same facility where pro-democracy activists have been imprisoned. Local organizations warn that the agreement with the United States positions the country as a "dumping ground for foreign criminals," while families and human rights advocates fear the deportees face indefinite detention without legal proceedings or basic rights.
Key Questions About Cuban Deportations to Third Countries
Why is the Cuban deportee in a maximum-security prison in Eswatini?
The Cuban deportee is in a maximum-security prison in Eswatini as part of a U.S. deportation program to third countries, despite having no charges filed against him and being denied access to legal counsel.
What is the U.S. third-country deportation program?
The U.S. third-country deportation program involves transferring deportees to nations other than their homeland, often criticized for its lack of transparency and perceived arbitrariness.
How has the U.S. Supreme Court impacted deportations to third countries?
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the legality of deportations to third countries, even when migrants allege risks of torture or death, enabling the expansion of this practice by the White House.