Trump’s America keeps its word: U.S. delivers on deportation threats, sends ‘barbaric’ offenders to Africa

The United States has deported five violent criminal offenders to Eswatini, an African kingdom, after their home countries refused to take them back, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed.

The deportees, originally from Cuba, Jamaica, Laos, Vietnam, and Yemen, were convicted of serious crimes, including murder and child rape. DHS described the individuals as “so uniquely barbaric” that their countries of origin refused their return.

This follows a controversial U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows the government to deport undocumented migrants to third countries not of their nationality. Just weeks earlier, another group of eight convicted criminals—including nationals from Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Mexico, Cuba, and South Sudan—was deported to South Sudan.

Tensions between Washington and Abuja have intensified over allegations that Nigeria was approached to accept deportees from Venezuela. Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, denied any such arrangement, stating during an interview on Channels TV:

“We already have over 230 million people. It would be unfair for Nigeria to accept 300 Venezuelan deportees.”

Quoting Public Enemy’s Flava Flav, Tuggar added, “I can’t do nothin’ for you, man,” in apparent rejection of U.S. pressure.

The Trump administration, now in its second term, has reportedly contacted several African nations—Liberia, Senegal, Mauritania, Gabon, and Guinea-Bissau—about accepting third-country deportees. Liberia’s Foreign Minister, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, denied any such discussions.

Meanwhile, U.S. visa restrictions on Nigerian travelers have added to the diplomatic strain. Non-diplomatic visas are now limited to single-entry permits valid for three months. The U.S. embassy in Abuja claims the changes are based on technical and security requirements, not retaliation.

Despite the rising tensions, Tuggar emphasized Nigeria’s focus on strategic cooperation with the U.S., especially in energy, critical minerals, and technology.

However, he made clear that accepting deported criminals is not on the negotiating table.

Nigerian and United States are still negotiating on strengthening the bi-lateral relationship between them.