In brief
Orville Isaac Etoria, a Jamaican man previously deported from the US to Eswatini, has been repatriated to Jamaica. His case has drawn criticism from legal advocates who argue that his deportation was unjust given his long-standing ties to the US as a lawful permanent resident. Currently, other deportees remain in solitary confinement in Eswatini, prompting human rights groups to demand action.
A Jamaican man deported from the US to Eswatini under President Donald Trump's tough new immigration rules has been sent on to Jamaica, the Eswatini government has said. Orville Isaac Etoria, 62, was voluntarily repatriated at the weekend, and was warmly welcomed by members of his family, it added.But his treatment has been condemned by the Legal Aid Society of New York, which says Etoria came to the US as a child and had lawful permanent resident status there for decades. Etoria and four other individuals - from Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and Yemen - were described by the US government as depraved monsters when they were expelled to Eswatini in July. Since then, they have been held in solitary confinement in a maximum security prison in the capital city Mbabane. Lawyers for the remaining four deportees claim they have been unable to contact them. However, Eswatini's government stated that it is making efforts to repatriate them all. Trump's pledge to conduct mass deportations was a centerpiece of his election campaign and drawn considerable support. But critics argue that such actions often lead to expelling individuals to countries where they possess no ties. Etoria had transformed his life while serving a 25-year prison sentence for murder and reintegrated into American society before he was deported and imprisoned again in Eswatini without due process, according to the Legal Aid Society. Activists in Eswatini have denounced the treatment of deportees as unconstitutional and staged protests outside the US embassy. Human rights groups are pursuing legal action to challenge these deportations, asserting that the government lacks the authority to make such deals without parliamentary approval. Eswatini's government maintains it acted within its legal powers. Eswatini is the last absolute monarchy in Africa. Formerly known as Swaziland, this small, landlocked nation has been led by King Mswati III since 1986.
