In the latest Amnesty Urgent Action letter addressed to Honourable HRH Prince Simelane, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of Eswatini; The Union urged to guarantee the legal rights of five men deported from the United States who remain detained without confidential access to lawyers at Matsapha Correctional Complex.
“Writing this letter was a statement of solidarity,” said Ximena Maldonado, TRUSU Equity Member at Large. “Everyone deserves a fair trial under international human-rights standards. Justice cannot depend on nationality or circumstance, it is a universal right.”
Roberto Mosquera Del Peral, Kassim Saleh Wasil, Dung Tien Nguyen, Phone Chomsavanh, and Orville Etoria, were deported on July 16, 2025. They have reportedly been denied in-person, confidential access to their lawyers, despite repeated attempts by counsel to meet with them. Such obstruction directly contradicts the Constitution of Eswatini, which guarantees the right to legal representation and a fair hearing. Detention without transparency or access to justice leaves these men in a state of uncertainty and fear, far from their homes and stripped of the most basic safeguards of law. No person, regardless of citizenship, origin, or circumstance should face silence in place of justice.
Beyond the walls of Matsapha Correctional Complex, this case is an example of a wider crisis of human rights and accountability. The US deportation campaign that brought these men to Eswatini exposes a growing global trend where migration control overshadows humanity, and legal systems bend under political pressure. Standing for these men is an act of standing for every displaced person, every silenced voice, and every community fighting to preserve dignity in the face of systemic injustice.
“We hope our voice adds to the collective effort demanding transparency, compassion, and accountability from Eswatini’s authorities,” said Maldonado. “The protection of human rights is not optional, it defines who we are as a global community.”
The Union awaits a response from the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
For More Information
The Amnesty Urgent Actions Program allows the Union to consistently take solidarity action regarding international human rights injustices that matter to students. Click to see the injustices we have addressed previously. For further information about this issue or to view a copy of the letter, contact the Equity Coordinator below.