A Cuban national, Roberto Mosquera del Peral, deported by the United States to Eswatini, has initiated a hunger strike while detained in a maximum-security prison for over three months without charge or access to legal representation. This case highlights the contentious U.S. third-country deportation program, which has drawn criticism from human rights advocates for its alleged denial of due process and exposure of deportees to rights abuses. Mosquera’s U.S.-based lawyer, Alma David, expressed grave concerns over his health and demanded immediate updates on his condition and access to legal counsel. Mosquera is among five men from Cuba, Jamaica, Laos, Vietnam, and Yemen deported to Eswatini, an absolute monarchy accused of human rights violations. While the Jamaican deportee was repatriated last month, the others remain incarcerated, prompting legal challenges against the Eswatini government. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security asserts that these individuals were convicted of serious crimes, including murder and rape, and were in the U.S. illegally. However, their lawyers argue that they have completed their sentences and are now being held unlawfully in Eswatini. The Trump administration’s deportation program has expanded to include agreements with several African nations, with reports indicating that the U.S. is paying millions to these countries to accept deportees. Critics argue that the program prioritizes immigration enforcement over human rights, raising ethical and legal concerns.
A Cuban man deported by the US to Africa is on a hunger strike in prison, his lawyer says
