Most Americans would likely struggle to pinpoint Eswatini on a map, as the small, landlocked Southern African nation—formerly known as Swaziland—remains obscure to many outside geopolitical or academic circles. Nestled between South Africa and Mozambique, Eswatini is a country of about 1.2 million people, roughly the size of Connecticut, and ruled by Africa’s last absolute monarch, King Mswati III. Its relative anonymity stems from its limited global presence, modest economy, and lack of major international headlines, overshadowed by larger neighbors like South Africa. Surveys on geographic literacy, such as those by the National Geographic Society, consistently show that Americans often lack familiarity with smaller or less prominent nations, and Eswatini, with its recent name change in 2018, is no exception. This obscurity makes it an unlikely focal point for public discourse, even as it emerges as a destination for U.S. deportations.

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) recent deportation of five convicted criminals—hailing from Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen, and Laos—to Eswatini has drawn little public outcry in the U.S., largely because these individuals, labeled “uniquely barbaric” by DHS, are seen as threats to public safety. These deportees, convicted of heinous crimes like murder and child rape, were sent to Eswatini after their home countries refused to accept them, following a Supreme Court ruling in June 2025 that greenlit third-country deportations. Public sentiment, as reflected in posts on X, suggests that many Americans are indifferent to their fate, prioritizing domestic safety over concerns about where these individuals end up. The lack of familiarity with Eswatini likely amplifies this apathy; for most, it’s a distant, abstract place, and the deportation of criminals to such a location feels inconsequential compared to the perceived benefit of removing dangerous individuals from American communities.

However, the decision to send deportees to Eswatini raises ethical questions that most Americans may not consider due to their unfamiliarity with the nation’s context. Eswatini’s limited resources, high poverty rates, and history of human rights concerns, as noted by Amnesty International, suggest it may struggle to manage these deportees, potentially straining local communities or correctional systems. Critics, including pro-democracy groups like SWALIMO, have voiced concerns about the secrecy of the U.S.-Eswatini deal and the potential risks to locals, but these issues barely register in U.S. public discourse. The combination of geographic ignorance and a focus on domestic safety means most Americans are unlikely to miss these deportees or question their fate in a country they can’t locate. Yet, this detachment risks overlooking the broader implications of third-country deportations, including potential violations of international law and the precedent it sets for global migration policies.