Cuban and Yemeni men deported to Eswatini, imprisoned without charges or legal access
Apr 10, 2026

Two migrants—one from Cuba and one from Yemen—were deported to Eswatini on July 16, 2025, as part of a group of five men sent to the country. Roberto Mosquera, the Cuban, was arrested by ICE at a routine immigration check-in in Florida on June 13, 2025, and deported without notice. Both men have been imprisoned in Eswatini's Matsapha Correctional Centre in isolation with no charges filed and initially no legal representation permitted. Their attorney states they have already served their U.S. sentences and are being held indefinitely while awaiting repatriation. In April 2026, after nine months of detention, Eswatini's Supreme Court ruled they have the right to meet with a local lawyer, a right previously denied. Civil society organizations have threatened legal action challenging the legality of their detention under Eswatini law.
Timeline
Sources
- US deportations to third countries shrouded in secrecy
english.elpais.com·Sep 5, 2025·archived copy
- Third Country Deportation Watch
- americanimmigrationcouncil.org
- globalsecurity.org
- TCD Tracker - USCRI
refugees.org·Jul 21, 2026·archived copy
- foreign.senate.gov
- Deportation ruling in Eswatini gives four men a legal opening after 9 months
el-balad.com·Apr 13, 2026·archived copy
- Court Rules In Favor Of 4 Men Deported By U.S. To Eswatini Southern Africa And Denied Lawyer Meetings For 9 Months - Global Upfront Newspapers
globalupfront.com·Apr 10, 2026·archived copy
- Three men deported by US file legal case against Eswatini over detention | The Guardian Mirror
thefappeningnewz.pages.dev·Mar 5, 2026·archived copy
- france24.com
- CSOs Threaten Legal Action Over US Deportations to Eswatini - Southern Africa Litigation Centre
southernafricalitigationcentre.org·Jul 18, 2025·archived copy
- Civil society groups threaten court action over US deportations of criminals to Eswatini
dailymaverick.co.za·Jul 21, 2025·archived copy
- rfi.fr
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