In a development that highlights the complexities of immigration policies, Eswatini has confirmed the repatriation of Orville Isaac Etoria, a Jamaican man who was deported from the US under stringent measures implemented during Donald Trump's presidency. The 62-year-old was sent back to Jamaica over the weekend and received a warm welcome from his family.
However, his journey to this point was marked by significant controversy. Etoria, who arrived in the United States as a child and had lawful permanent residence for decades, was among a group of individuals that included others from Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and Yemen, labeled by the US government as depraved monsters when they were expelled to Eswatini.
After his arrival, Etoria, along with four other deportees, was placed in solitary confinement in a maximum-security prison in Mbabane. Legal representatives for the remaining detainees claim they have been unable to establish contact with them. The Eswatini government has indicated it is making efforts to repatriate these individuals as well.
The response to Etoria's deportation has been widespread condemnation from legal groups, including the Legal Aid Society of New York, which argues that his due process rights were violated. They’ve called attention to Etoria’s transformation during his 25-year incarceration for murder, where he reportedly reintegrated into society before being deported.
Activists in Eswatini have also voiced their disapproval of the agreement, describing it as unconstitutional, and have staged protests outside the American embassy to call for accountability. They argue that such decisions require parliamentary approval, which has not been sought in this case.
As Eswatini navigates its role in these US-led deportation strategies, the ongoing situation raises questions regarding international immigration policies, the treatment of deportees, and the implications for those sent to countries where they have no meaningful ties.
Eswatini remains the last absolute monarchy in Africa, a small, landlocked country bordered by South Africa and Mozambique, traditionally ruled by King Mswati III since 1986.
