Eswatini’s King Mswati II ‘Snatches’ U.S. Deportee Kilmar Abrego García from Museveni’s Grasp

The saga of U.S. deportee Kilmar Abrego García has taken a new turn after the Trump administration announced that the controversial immigrant will be transferred to Eswatini following objections raised over an earlier plan to deport him to Uganda.

Abrego, a Salvadoran national who has lived in the United States for more than a decade, was at the center of a disputed deportation arrangement between Washington and Kampala.

Human rights advocates had raised concerns that he risked torture if removed to Uganda, prompting a U.S. federal judge to temporarily block the transfer.

In the aftermath, Eswatini under King Mswati III stepped in to accept the deportee, effectively sidelining Uganda from the arrangement.

The shift is seen as a diplomatic setback for President Yoweri Museveni, whose government had been in discussions with Washington to take in deportees as part of broader bilateral cooperation worth millions of dollars and other guarantees.

Ugandan officials have not commented publicly on the reversal, though critics in Kampala described the development as an embarrassment to the country. They argued that the deal had been poorly negotiated and risked portraying Uganda as a dumping ground for America’s unwanted migrants.

Eswatini authorities confirmed that they are prepared to host Abrego under what they described as “humanitarian and security considerations.” Analysts say the move allows King Mswati to strengthen ties with Washington while avoiding the human rights criticism often associated with Uganda.

For now, Abrego remains in U.S. custody while legal processes continue. His lawyers have vowed to challenge any transfer, arguing that deportation to a third country without ties to his case raises serious due process concerns.

The U.S. government maintains that it acted within its powers to designate an alternative destination once Uganda was ruled out, but questions remain about the legality and ethics of relocating deportees to countries where they have no prior connection.