A Laotian man, Phone Chomsavanh, is released from a maximum-security prison in Eswatini after being held there for more than a year following a U.S. third-country deportation. Multiple outlets report he was freed on Sunday, after his lawyer said he had been in detention since July 2025.
The reports say Chomsavanh was among five immigrants deported to Eswatini in early days of the Trump administration. They describe Eswatini as a place where he has no ties, and they characterize the deportation process as secretive and contentious. While the articles align on his deportation to Eswatini and the duration of his imprisonment, they focus slightly differently on context: one outlet emphasizes the policy’s timing and controversy under the administration, while another highlights his lawyer’s account of the release from prison.
Across coverage, the central points remain consistent: the U.S. deportation to Eswatini occurred in July 2025, and Chomsavanh’s release follows more than 14 months of incarceration, based on statements from his legal representative.
