Mbabane, Eswatini
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Jamaicans who were deported from the United States to the southern part of Esvatini in southern Africa two months ago were repatriated to Jamaica, the Esvatini government said.
The man named Orville Isaac Etoria in a government statement was one of five third country citizens deported to Eswatini in July by the Trump administration as part of crackdowns on illegal immigration.
Efforts are underway to repatriate the other four from Cuba, Laos, Vietnam and Yemen, while still in detention, Eswatini’s government said.
“Mr. Etoria has safely returned to Jamaica, where he was warmly welcomed by his family members,” said a statement from the Eswatini government issued on Monday.
He said he was deported on Sunday at his own will. President Donald Trump is aiming to illegally deport millions of US immigrants, and his administration is seeking to step up removals to third countries, including South Sudan and Ghana.
The US Department of Homeland Security said in July that all five individuals were sent to Esvatini, a criminal convicted, “it’s unique and wild enough that their country would not regain them.” Etrea said she was convicted of murder.
However, the Esvatini government said some countries reached out to say that it was not true that they rejected citizens.
Critics say the removal of the US into a third country aims to blow away fear among immigrants, and encourages “self-forcement” into their country rather than being sent to far away places where they are not involved.
According to the New York-based Legal Aid Association, Etoria, who arrived in the United States as a child, was already sentenced to 25 years in prison, and was deported again to Esvatini without a due process and released when he was imprisoned.
