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 stated.
Orville Isaac Etoria, 62, was voluntarily repatriated at the weekend and was 'warmly welcomed by members of his family', according to reports.
However, his treatment has drawn condemnation from the Legal Aid Society of New York, which argues that Etoria had arrived in the US as a child and held lawful permanent residency for decades.
Etoria, alongside four other individuals from various nations, was described by the US as 'depraved monsters' when expelled to Eswatini in July.
After that, they were held in solitary confinement at a maximum-security prison in the capital, Mbabane.
While the other deportees have yet to be repatriated, Eswatini's government has committed to facilitating their return.
The actions taken stem from Trump's pledge for mass deportations, a crucial aspect of his election campaign drawing extensive support. Notably, individuals have been sent to countries with which they have no connections.
Etoria reportedly 'transformed his life' during a 25-year imprisonment for murder and reintegrated into American society before his deportation.
Activists in Eswatini have labeled the agreement as 'unconstitutional', protesting outside the American embassy. Legal actions have been initiated to contest the agreement, asserting that parliament's approval is mandatory for such deals.
Eswatini asserts its actions were within legal boundaries, as it stands as the last absolute monarchy in Africa, governed since 1986 by King Mswati III.
