A Cuban man, deported from the United States to the Kingdom of Eswatini, a small monarchy in southern Africa, has publicly criticized the forced relocation of himself and other migrants to an African country without their consent, legal representation, or pending charges.
In a video shared on Raúl Hernández's Instagram account (@dadecountyraul), the deportee claims to have already served his prison sentence in the U.S. and questions the legality of his current situation.
"We were treated like merchandise. We are being held indefinitely. They want to force us to seek asylum here, but we are not Africans, nor do we speak their language, this tribal language, or anything like that. And besides, no lawyer, nothing," he declared.
The man admitted to his criminal past but emphasized that he has already repaid his debt to society. "This is criminal. I’m a former convict, I paid for my mistake. That’s what I want to make clear," he stated.
He also challenged the legal grounds of his forced relocation: "There isn’t a law in the world that says you can hold someone indefinitely without a crime or anything. You know well that moving someone from one place to another without their consent is called kidnapping. It’s nothing else," he expressed.
U.S. Policy and Its Repercussions
This case is part of the Trump administration's immigration policy, which, faced with Cuba's refusal to accept its nationals with serious criminal records—labeled as highly dangerous—has resorted to deporting them to third countries.
In May 2025, Washington inked a deal with Eswatini, allowing the country to receive up to 160 deportees from nations rejecting their own citizens, in exchange for $5.1 million in financial assistance.
The deportees are held at the Matsapha Maximum Security Correctional Facility, operating at 171% of its capacity and known for documented abuses, as reported by the U.S. Department of State.
More Cases Emerge
This Cuban is not alone in this predicament. Roberto Mosquera del Peral, aged 58, was deported to Eswatini on July 14, 2025, and began a hunger strike in October of that year due to lack of formal charges and legal defense access.
Juan Carlos Font Agüero, 59, was deported on November 1, 2025, with his eyes blindfolded; his family reports he is ill in prison.
Among the comments on the video, several users highlighted the Cuban regime's responsibility in this chain of deportations.
"They should hold the Cuban government accountable, as they are the ones who won’t accept them back," wrote one user. Another pointed out, "It’s a human rights abuse. If they served their sentence for whatever crime they committed, they have paid. They shouldn’t be imprisoned."
Human Rights Watch and a coalition of nongovernmental organizations have legally challenged the U.S.-Eswatini agreement, arguing that it violates international law and Eswatini's own laws, exposing deportees to arbitrary detention, mistreatment, and forced return.
Frequently Asked Questions about Deportation to Eswatini
Why are Cubans being deported to Eswatini?
Due to Cuba's refusal to accept nationals with serious criminal records, the U.S. has turned to deporting these individuals to third countries like Eswatini as part of an immigration agreement.
What are the conditions like for deportees in Eswatini?
Deportees are held in Matsapha Maximum Security Correctional Facility, which is overcrowded and has a documented history of abuses, according to the U.S. Department of State.
How has the international community responded to the U.S.-Eswatini deportation agreement?
Organizations like Human Rights Watch have challenged the agreement, citing violations of international law and potential human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention and mistreatment.