Eswatini Sends US Deportee Orville Etoria Back to Jamaica Amid Controversy

Fri Oct 24 2025 04:06:09 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The repatriation of Jamaican Orville Etoria from Eswatini to Jamaica highlights the ongoing debates over deportation policies and human rights for foreign nationals.

Orville Isaac Etoria, a Jamaican man recently deported from the United States to Eswatini under strict immigration policies, has officially been repatriated to Jamaica. This action, which follows widespread condemnation related to his treatment and the nature of his deportation, emphasizes the complex legal and ethical issues surrounding immigration and asylum laws. Activists continue to challenge the legality of deporting individuals to countries where they have no connection, amid calls for justice and proper legal processes.

Orville Isaac Etoria, a 62-year-old Jamaican man deported from the US to Eswatini under former President Donald Trump's immigration policies, has been repatriated to Jamaica, according to the government of Eswatini.

The Eswatini government stated that Etoria was voluntarily sent back to his home country over the weekend, where he was warmly welcomed by members of his family. However, his deportation has sparked outrage and condemnation from various human rights organizations.

Legal Aid Society of New York has vocally criticized the treatment of Etoria, who they argue was a lawful permanent resident of the United States for decades and came to the country as a child. Following his deportation, he and four other individuals from different countries were held in solitary confinement in a maximum-security prison in Mbabane, the capital of Eswatini.

The US government had previously labeled these individuals as depraved monsters, raising concerns over the fairness and legality of their treatment. The remaining deportees have reportedly been unreachable, prompting lawyers to demand urgent communication and fair treatment.

The backdrop to this controversy includes Trump's aggressive stance on immigration, where mass deportations became a hallmark of his administration. Critics argue that such policies lead to unjust and inhumane situations, particularly for individuals lacking meaningful connections to the countries they are exiled to.

In the case of Etoria, his historical context of reintegration into American society and personal transformation after serving a significant prison sentence for murder contrasts sharply with the brutal realities of his treatment following deportation. Activists in Eswatini protested what they deemed an unconstitutional arrangement, emphasizing that government actions should require parliamentary approval.

As a significant voice in these ongoing discussions, Eswatini operates as the last absolute monarchy in Africa. The case of Etoria not only raises questions about the fate of deportees but also points to broader issues of human rights in the context of international immigration policies.