Orville Isaac Etoria, a Jamaican man deported from the US to Eswatini under former President Donald Trump's stringent immigration policies, has been successfully repatriated to Jamaica, according to the Eswatini government.
The 62-year-old was welcomed by family members when he returned home over the weekend. His deportation, however, has not been without controversy; critics from the Legal Aid Society of New York have condemned the action, arguing Etoria had lawful permanent residency in the US for decades.
Upon being expelled to Eswatini earlier this year, he was detained alongside others from Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and Yemen, described by US authorities as depraved monsters. Following this designation, they were placed in solitary confinement within a maximum security prison located in the capital, Mbabane.
Despite the government's claims of lawful deportation processes, advocates assert that such actions are unconstitutional and legally indefensible, as the Eswatini government did not have parliament's approval to execute this deal. The Legal Aid Society argues that Etoria had rehabilitated himself during a 25-year sentence for murder and had begun reintegrating into society prior to his deportation.
The call for action has led to protests outside the US embassy in Eswatini, with activists arguing for the rights of the deported individuals. Although Etoria's return to Jamaica marks a significant development, the plight of four remaining detainees raises ongoing concerns about their future.
Eswatini, the last absolute monarchy in Africa, continues to grapple with the ramifications of these deportations and the implications on human rights within its borders.
