A poor, underdeveloped country with a population less than Dallas is giving Trump massive headache with illegal migrants

Economic Times

17-07-2025

Synopsis
Eswatini, a small African kingdom, has reversed its decision to accept five migrants deported by the United States. Initially agreeing to President Trump's conditions, Eswatini will now facilitate the return of migrants to their home countries, including Vietnam, Jamaica, and Cuba. This decision follows concerns about human rights and accusations of exploitation, sparking condemnation from opposition groups.
AP FILE - Eswatini's King Mswati III addresses the Climate Action Summit in the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Sept. 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File) The tiny African kingdom of Eswatini announced Wednesday (July 16, 2025) that it would repatriate the five migrants who had been deported there by the United States. This development comes as a big issue for the Trump administration, as the African nation, which has a population less than many US cities, including Dallas, initially agreed to US President Donald Trump's conditions and was ready to accept the illegal immigrants, but now it is saying that these migrants will be sent back to their country of origin.Eswatini, Africa's 39th largest economy, has a population less than that of Dallas. Its population size is 1.2 million people, while Dallas has a population of over 1.3 million. American officials said on Tuesday (July 15, 2025) that the migrants' home countries had refused to accept them. The migrants came from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen, and Cuba and had been serving time in American prisons for serious offenses, according to the Department of Homeland Security.Eswatini government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said in a statement Wednesday that the governments of her country and the United States, together with the International Organization for Migration, will "facilitate the transit of these inmates to their countries of origin."The International Organization for Migration said that it had no involvement in the removal of the migrants from the United States and had not been asked to provide any support with repatriation. The Trump administration has worked aggressively to broker deals with international partners willing to take deportees. Legal experts have challenged the deportations because the migrants could be subject to mistreatment and torture.After the Supreme Court decision, immigration officials acted quickly to implement new regulations that allow the government to carry out third-country deportations in as little as six hours, even without assurances that the migrants will be safe.
Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is tucked between South Africa and Mozambique and has one of Africa's last ruling monarchies. The kingdom is divided between those who praise its adherence to tradition and those who argue that the lavish lifestyle of King Mswati III stands in painful contrast to the poverty afflicting many of the country's 1.2 million people.According to World Economics.com, Eswatini's GDP forecast is $5 billion in 2024 and $4.8 billion projected for 2025 (current market prices). This Eswatini GDP growth forecast for 2024 and 2025 reflects an estimated growth rate of 4.2%.The economy of Eswatini has grown at an average annual growth rate of 2.8% in the last four years and is ranked the 39th largest economy in Africa, ahead of Burundi.Besides Dallas, there are also several other US cities that have a population greater than Eswatini. These include New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and Miami, among others. Eswatini's economy is driven mainly by the services sector, which makes up over half of the country's economic output. Manufacturing, especially sugar production, along with agriculture, mining, and construction, also plays big roles. Eswatini depends heavily on South Africa for both trade and imports, with about 65% of exports and 75% of imports linked to its neighbor.Some citizens of Eswatini and foreign governments have also raised concerns about the country's human rights record, accusing the government of using excessive, sometimes lethal, force against people who oppose the king. Those opposed to the monarchy were quick to condemn the arrival of the deportees."This is appalling," said Lioness Sibande, the secretary-general of the Swaziland Peoples Liberation Movement, an opposition group. She described the move as an example of the West's long history of exploiting African nations. "The West is always disrespecting us as Africans and thinking we are their dumpsite," she said.In her statement, Mdluli, the government spokesperson, sought to temper the concerns of Eswatini citizens. She said the deportees were being held in isolation units at correctional facilities.The decision to take migrants from the United States came after months of talks that included "rigorous risk assessments and careful consideration for the safety and security of citizens," she said. "The nation is assured that these inmates pose no threat to the country or its citizens." Mdluli added that she could not reveal what Eswatini received in return for taking the migrants because the terms of the agreement with the United States remain classified.