He Was Deported to a Country He’d Never Heard Of

Overview

This episode explores the Trump administration's controversial practice of third-country deportations, focusing on the story of Roberto Mosquera, a Cuban immigrant who was deported to Eswatini—a country he had never heard of. The episode delves into the legal, human rights, and personal implications of this policy, as well as the broader geopolitical and ethical questions it raises.

Notable Quotes

- What the hell am I doing in Africa, bro? I don’t want to go to Africa. – Roberto Mosquera, on realizing he had been deported to Eswatini, a country he had never heard of.

- These people aren’t terrorist suspects, but they share something with Guantanamo Bay detainees—they’re out of U.S. jurisdiction, and they could be forgotten. – Nicholas Casey, on the parallels between third-country deportations and Guantanamo Bay.

- I haven’t finished my job as a father, and that hurts me the most. – Roberto Mosquera, reflecting on being separated from his daughters in the U.S.

🛫 The Practice of Third-Country Deportations

- Nicholas Casey explains that third-country deportations involve sending individuals to countries they have no connection to, often with poor human rights records.

- The Trump administration expanded this practice, cutting deals with countries like Eswatini and El Salvador, sometimes offering financial incentives.

- Historically, third-country deportations were rare and limited to safe countries like Canada, but the current approach has sent people to nations with active conflicts or authoritarian regimes.

👨‍👩‍👧 Roberto Mosquera’s Story

- Roberto, who fled Cuba as a child in 1980, lived in the U.S. for decades, raising four daughters and working as a plumber.

- After serving time for a crime he claims he didn’t commit, he was allowed to stay in the U.S. under strict conditions, checking in with ICE annually.

- In June 2025, during a routine ICE check-in, Roberto was detained and later deported to Eswatini, where he was imprisoned without charges.

🌍 Life in Eswatini’s Maximum-Security Prison

- Roberto was sent to Eswatini, a small African nation with a poor human rights record, where he was treated as a criminal despite no formal charges.

- He endured harsh conditions, including being held in a small cell, denied access to a lawyer, and subjected to indefinite detention.

- Desperate, Roberto went on a hunger strike, which led to severe health issues but eventually allowed him to obtain a phone and connect with a U.S. human rights lawyer.

⚖️ Legal and Ethical Implications

- A federal court recently ruled third-country deportations unconstitutional, citing violations of due process rights.

- The Trump administration has appealed to the Supreme Court, seeking to continue the practice while the case is under review.

- The case raises questions about the U.S.'s responsibility toward deportees and its complicity in human rights abuses in the receiving countries.

🕊️ The Human Cost of Deportation

- Roberto’s story highlights the personal toll of third-country deportations, including separation from family and the psychological trauma of indefinite detention.

- He keeps a diary, writing about his longing for his daughters, especially his youngest, Faith, whom he feels he has failed as a father.

- With no clear path to freedom, Roberto fears being forgotten, much like detainees at Guantanamo Bay.