KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — The Jamaican government says two of its three citizens were recently deported by the United States to African Kingdom of Eswatini officially rejected proposals for repatriation to Caribbean nation.
Late Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Jamaican officials were still trying to contact the third national.
“During the discussion, the men were informed of the consular assistance available to them and the government’s willingness to facilitate their return to Jamaica,” the Foreign Office said.
The Jamaican government told the couple that authorities “could not determine their immigration status in the United States or ensure their return there. Both men stated that they did not wish to return to Jamaica.”
Contact was made through the Jamaican consulate in Miami and legal counsel representing the men, who have not been identified.
Jamaica’s actions follow diplomatic requests made to US officials in Washington, as well as official statements made to the Eswatini government through the Jamaican diplomatic mission in Pretoria, South Africa.
Growing number deportation to third countries by the US government to places like Eswatini have been widely criticized by lawyers and human rights groups.
Eswatini is a tiny kingdom bordering South Africa, where the king holds absolute power and has been accused of suppressing pro-democracy movements.
Orville Etoria, who was the first Jamaican sent to Eswatini under the program, was repatriated to his country in September last year.
His lawyers accused the US of illegally deporting him there in July 2025 and said he and others were repeatedly denied access to a lawyer.
Etoria was repatriated with the help of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN agency.