US Immigration Crackdown and Deportation Controversies

A Cuban man, Roberto Mosquera del Peral, deported by the US to Eswatini, Africa, is on a hunger strike at a maximum-security prison, sparking concerns over his health. Mosquera was one of five men sent to Eswatini in July as part of the US deportation program to Africa, which has been criticized by rights groups. The men were convicted of serious crimes in the US, but their lawyers argue they have completed their sentences and are being held illegally. The Eswatini government claims the men will be repatriated, but could be held for up to a year. Human Rights Watch has raised concerns over the US paying African nations to accept deportees, citing documents showing the US agreed to pay Eswatini $5.1 million to take up to 160 deportees.

The article reports on a recent immigration crackdown in Chicago, including in wealthy neighborhoods like Lakeview and Lincoln Park, where federal agents have been making arrests, interrogating people, and using tear gas. Residents have responded with anger, confronting agents and recording the encounters. The crackdown has disrupted daily life for many Chicagoans, not just immigrant workers or undocumented individuals. The Department of Homeland Security has not commented on the incidents. A federal judge has ordered a senior Border Patrol official to appear in court over the use of tear gas on crowds without warnings.

The Trump administration is planning to shake up Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by replacing several senior leaders in field offices across the US to speed up deportations. The move is driven by frustration over the pace of deportations, which are lagging behind President Trump's goal of over a million by the end of his first year in office. The administration has been under pressure to crack down on immigration, a key issue on Trump's agenda. Despite claims of success, the numbers are disputed, and ICE officials face challenges in meeting the administration's targets.