Jamaican Nationals Decline Repatriation from Eswatini

The government of Jamaica has announced that two of its citizens, recently deported by the United States to Eswatini, have declined offers to return to the Caribbean nation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that efforts are still ongoing to reach a third citizen concerning the situation.

The Foreign Ministry stated that discussions with the men included information on available consular assistance and the government’s willingness to facilitate their return to Jamaica. However, the authorities advised the men that it was unable to determine their immigration status in the United States or arrange for their return to the U.S. Both individuals expressed their desire not to return to Jamaica.

Coordination was done through the Jamaican Consulate in Miami and involved consultation with a legal adviser acting on behalf of the men, who remain unnamed. Jamaica’s actions came after diplomatic consultations with U.S. officials in Washington and formal communications with Eswatini’s government through Jamaica’s diplomatic mission in Pretoria, South Africa.

The deportations by the U.S. government to countries like Eswatini have faced criticism from legal experts and human rights advocates. Eswatini, a small kingdom bordering South Africa, is known for its absolute monarchy and alleged suppression of pro-democracy movements.

In a related case, Orville Etoria, the first Jamaican sent to Eswatini under this program, was repatriated to Jamaica last September with assistance from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a U.N. agency. Etoria’s legal team alleged unlawful deportation by the U.S. in July 2025 and claimed repeated denials of lawyer visits.