U.S. expands controversial deportation transfers to Eswatini, detaining four men in high-security prison
Original framing: “Eswatini: Arrival of four more men under US unlawful removal deal” — Amnesty International
This practice echoes colonial-era strategies where Western powers outsourced governance and control to local intermediaries. The use of Eswatini as a transit and detention hub reflects a modern iteration of this pattern, where legal and political systems are manipulated to serve external interests.
The U.S. outsourcing of immigration enforcement to Eswatini is part of a broader systemic pattern where powerful states exploit weaker legal systems to avoid accountability for human rights violations.
This practice reflects historical colonial dynamics and reinforces neocolonial power structures. While the detained individuals are often from marginalized backgrounds, their voices are excluded from the policy discourse. Indigenous and local legal systems are sidelined in favor of foreign interests, and scientific and artistic perspectives remain underrepresented. To address this, international legal frameworks must be strengthened, local legal empowerment must be supported, and regional alternatives to detention must be developed. Only through a multi-dimensional approach that includes transparency, accountability, and human-centered policy can the systemic issues be meaningfully addressed.