A judge in Eswatini, Titus Mlangeni, did not attend a scheduled court hearing regarding the continued detention of four men deported from the United States. The hearing, which took place Thursday, was initiated by several non-profit organizations challenging the legality of holding the men without charges. They were deported to Eswatini in mid-July as part of former President Trump’s immigration policy, which utilized “third countries” for non-citizen deportations.

The men have been held at the Matsapha Correctional Complex for over two months, reportedly without access to legal counsel. Human rights advocates have criticized the constitutionality of such deportations, citing concerns about due process in countries that lack legal protections.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have condemned the conditions faced by the deported men, urging Eswatini to provide legal access and clarify the basis for their detention. Earlier this week, a separate case seeking legal representation for the deportees faced delays.

Earlier in the week, the Eswatini government announced the repatriation of one deportee, Orville Isaac Etoria, to Jamaica, but human rights groups continue to call for accountability regarding the treatment of those still imprisoned.



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