MANZINI, Eswatini (AP) – A flight carrying a group of Southeast Asian migrants, deported from the United States, landed in Eswatini early on Monday, according to a lawyer representing two of the deportees. This marks the latest in a series of deportation flights to African nations facilitated under the Trump administration's third-country deportation program, which includes largely undisclosed agreements with at least five countries.

Currently, Eswatini is holding four men from Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and Yemen in a maximum-security prison. These individuals were deported from the United States in mid-July and, according to their lawyers, have been detained without formal charges and denied access to legal counsel for nearly three months. U.S. authorities assert that these individuals are convicted criminals with existing deportation orders. A Jamaican man who was part of this group was repatriated to Eswatini last month.

Tin Thanh Nguyen, a U.S.-based attorney, confirmed that he represents two Vietnamese nationals aboard the recent deportation flight. Prior to their deportation, they were held at the Alexandria Staging Facility immigration detention center in Louisiana before being flown to Eswatini on a flight that departed on Friday night. Nguyen reported that at least nine Southeast Asian nationals were on the flight, estimating a total of up to 11 deportees on board.

With assistance from a rights organization, Nguyen tracked the deportation flight and noted its stops in Puerto Rico, Senegal, and Angola before arriving in Eswatini. He is also representing two men who had been previously deported to Eswatini and are still being detained there.

The Eswatini government issued a statement on Sunday, indicating its agreement to receive 11 additional deportees from the U.S. during October; however, they did not provide specific details on the arrival dates. Government spokespeople could not confirm the plane's arrival as of Monday. Eswatini’s agreement with the U.S. reportedly includes a provision to accept up to 160 deportees. Human Rights Watch has disclosed that the U.S. will compensate Eswatini with $5.1 million as part of this arrangement.

Among the deportees targeted, the U.S. has expressed the intent to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Eswatini. This small kingdom, located adjacent to South Africa, is known for its absolute monarchy, where the king has been accused of suppressing pro-democracy movements.

Since July, the U.S. has deported over 30 individuals to various African countries, including eight individuals to South Sudan, seven to Rwanda, and a group of 14 West African migrants to Ghana. Rights organizations have raised concerns regarding the deportation program, suggesting that sending individuals to nations where due process is not guaranteed raises ethical questions.

In South Sudan, six deportees remain in an undisclosed facility, while the Rwandan government has not publicly disclosed the location of its detained deportees. In Ghana, legal action is being taken by 11 deportees who allege poor conditions in military custody near the capital, Accra.

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Nokukhanya Musi And Gerald Imray, The Associated Press