Eswatini Denies Agreement to Accept U.S. Deportee Kilmar Abrego

The government of Eswatini has denied having any agreement with the United States to accept Kilmar Abrego, an El Salvadoran facing deportation under President Donald Trump's immigration policies. Eswatini's spokesperson, Thabile Mdluli, stated that no communication about Abrego had been received and any future deportation proposals would require bilateral discussions. Abrego, currently detained in Virginia, was initially set for deportation to Uganda but expressed fear of persecution there, leading the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to designate Eswatini as his new removal country despite his lack of ties to the nation. Eswatini previously accepted five third-country deportees from the U.S. in July, a move that has sparked legal challenges from local human rights activists who argue the secretive agreements are illegal. Abrego's case highlights ongoing controversies over the Trump administration's policy of deporting migrants to countries with which they have no connection, raising questions about the legality and humanitarian implications of such actions. The Department of Homeland Security has not commented on Eswatini's recent denial.