The Eswatini government has repatriated a Jamaican man who was deported from the United States. Orville Isaac Etoria, aged 62, had been sent to Eswatini under stringent immigration rules established during President Trump's administration. He was reunited with his family in Jamaica following his release over the weekend.
Etoria's repatriation has sparked significant backlash from human rights organizations, notably the Legal Aid Society of New York, which advocates for his case. They emphasize that Etoria came to the U.S. as a child and had maintained lawful permanent resident status for decades until his deportation.
Upon arrival in Eswatini, Etoria spent months in solitary confinement within a maximum security prison in the capital city, Mbabane, along with four other individuals from various countries who were also deported. Legal representatives for these remaining deportees have expressed concerns over their lack of communication since their detention.
This case aligns with a broader critique of the U.S. deportation strategy, especially concerning individuals expelled to nations where they have no connections. Etoria had made significant strides in rehabilitating himself after serving a 25-year sentence for murder before facing deportation.
Activists in Eswatini condemned the deal that led to these deportations as unconstitutional, claiming the government acted without proper parliamentary approval. Still, the government maintains that it acted within its legal capacities. Eswatini, known as the last absolute monarchy in Africa, has been led by King Mswati III since 1986.
