HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

A living database documenting reported immigration enforcement incidents and their human impact.

Pheap R.: Cambodian refugee deported to Eswatini, held five months without charges

Pheap Rom, a Cambodian national and U.S. resident since 1985, was deported to Eswatini in 2024, held five months without charges, then repatriated to Cambodia in March 2026 under a $5.1 million U.S. deal.

Mar 28, 2026Country of origin: Cambodia

Pheap R.: Cambodian refugee deported to Eswatini, held five months without charges
Photo via Associated Press

Pheap Rom, a Cambodian national with permanent resident status in the United States since 1985, was deported to Eswatini in October 2024 under the Trump administration's third-country deportation program. Rom had completed a 15-year prison sentence for attempted murder before deportation proceedings. He was detained at Matsapha Correctional Centre in Eswatini for approximately five months without criminal charges in that country. Rom was released and repatriated to Cambodia in late March 2026, becoming the second person repatriated under the agreement. The U.S. has paid Eswatini $5.1 million to accept up to 160 deportees under this arrangement, with approximately 15-20 men deported there during this period.

Timeline

Mar 28, 2026—Rom repatriated to Cambodia
Mar 25, 2026—Rom released from detention in Eswatini after five months
Oct 2024—Pheap Rom deported by United States to Eswatini under third-country deportation program
Oct 2024—Rom detained at Matsapha Correctional Centre in Eswatini without criminal charges
Suggest a correction, comment, or update

Tags

Sources

Show 2 more sources ↓
Similar Incidents

Loading…

Related incidents