South African Man Arrested in US ICE Raid as Deportees Land in eSwatini

A complex crackdown sees hundreds detained and deported as questions mount about who gets sent back

In a story that has sparked both outrage and debate across social media, a 37-year-old South African man has been arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a series of nationwide raids. The man, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, faces serious charges, including driving under the influence, terroristic threats, and using a weapon to commit a felony.

ICE Denver confirmed the arrest on Monday via its verified X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that the man remains in custody pending immigration proceedings.

“Not everyone deserves to come back”

The arrest has stirred sharp reactions online, especially among South Africans. Some users expressed embarrassment, calling the man’s actions disgraceful and insisting that the country does not want him back. Others used the moment to push back against claims that immigration crackdowns unfairly target only Black or marginalised individuals.

Under President Donald Trump, the United States has significantly ramped up immigration enforcement, delivering on a campaign promise to deport undocumented and criminal migrants more aggressively. According to ICE data, 1,361 arrests were recorded in the Houston area alone during June.

Among those arrested, ICE officials said:

• 32 individuals were convicted of child sex offences

• 9 of homicide-related crimes

• 16 were known members of transnational gangs or drug cartels

• 1 had previously hijacked a plane from Cuba to Key West

Gabriel Martinez, acting director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Houston, described the actions as part of their mission to make communities safer. He praised agents for their “unyielding efforts” to remove “dangerous criminal aliens” from the country.

Deadly raids and a controversial deportation flight

Not all raids have gone without incident. In a high-profile case last week, ICE agents raided a cannabis farm in Ventura County, outside Los Angeles, detaining nearly 200 migrant workers. Protesters clashed with officers, and tragically, one worker died after falling from a greenhouse roof while trying to flee.

A few days later, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed a deportation flight had landed in eSwatini (formerly Swaziland). The department said the men on board were convicted criminals whose home countries refused to take them back.

That flight reportedly carried five men from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Cuba, and Yemen. Crimes included child rape, murder, robbery, and second-degree homicide.

Deportation beyond borders

The removals follow a recent US Supreme Court ruling, which now permits deportations to third countries, nations that are not the migrant’s country of origin. This shift enables cases like the eSwatini deportation, even when home nations are unwilling to cooperate.

A statement from DHS declared:

“These convicted criminals… can never hurt another American victim.”

As for the South African man still in custody, it remains unclear whether he will be returned to South Africa or deported elsewhere.

A deeper immigration divide

The broader story reflects a growing divide over how immigration is handled, both within the US and in how other countries, like South Africa, view those sent back.

For some South Africans, the arrest of one of their own is a source of national embarrassment. For others, it serves as a reminder that citizenship and behaviour are inseparable, even beyond a country’s borders.

Whether or not this man is deported, the message from the Trump administration is clear: immigration enforcement is front and centre, and no one is above it.

Also read: MK Party Demands Ramaphosa Resign by Mandela Day or Face Political Showdown

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Source: The Citizen

Featured Image: iStock