An Immigrant Deported by the US and Held in an African Prison for More than a Year Has Been Released
His lawyer said he left Eswatini and landed in Johannesburg en route to Laos after being held without charges.
- On Sunday, Laotian citizen Phone Chomsavanh was released from the Matsapha Correctional Complex in Eswatini after being held for more than a year without charge, his lawyer said.
- The Trump administration initiated this secretive third-country deportation program in July 2025, paying Eswatini $5.1 million to accept deportees including Chomsavanh, who had no ties to the African nation.
- Human Rights First reports that around 500 immigrants have been deported from the United States to African countries since the program began last year. Eswatini has received around 30 deportees so far.
- Tin Thanh Nguyen, Chomsavanh's U.S.-based lawyer, confirmed his client is now being deported to Laos after his release from Eswatini. The Supreme Court ruled last week to temporarily allow the administration to continue removals despite legal challenges.
- Legal challenges persist in the United States and abroad; an appeals court previously halted the program over due process concerns about potential persecution. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in December on the policy's constitutionality.
26 Articles
26 Articles
Washington Times
The New York LedgerAn immigrant deported by U.S., held in African prison for more than a year has been released
A Laotian citizen deported by the United States to Eswatini under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown was released from a maximum security prison in the African nation on Sunday after being held there for more than a year, his lawyer said.
Clarin
Independent EspañolA Laosian deported to Esuatini by the U.S. was released after a year in prison. He was part of the program of deportations to third countries. Man, without links to Esuatini, now addresses Laos. This program has been criticized for violating human rights and lacking transparency.
Laotian immigrant deported by the US and held in an African prison for more than a year has been released
Phone Chomsavanh was among five immigrants deported to Eswatini — where he has no ties — in July 2025 in the early days of the Trump administration’s secretive and highly contentious third-country deportation program.
An immigrant deported by the US and held in an African prison for more than a year has been released – WTOP News
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A Laotian citizen deported by the United States to Eswatini under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown was released from a maximum security prison in the African nation on Sunday after being held there for more than a year, his lawyer said. Phone Chomsavanh was among five immigrants deported to...
An immigrant deported by the US and held in an African prison for more
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A Laotian citizen deported by the United States to Eswatini under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown was released from a maximum security prison in the African nation on Sunday after being
An immigrant deported by the US and held in an African prison for more than a year has been released
A Laos citizen deported by the United States to Eswatini in Africa under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has been released after spending more than a year in a maximum security prison
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