Eswatini, a southern African country ruled by King Mswati III, has continued to face criticism from human rights groups within the country and internationally for making deals to accept refugees deported by the Trump administration.

According to AFP, Eswatini’s Finance Minister, Neal Rijkenberg, told Parliament on Monday that the money had already been received.

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He said: “After inquiring, we were told that the funds are meant for relocated people,” adding that his ministry was never given any information “throughout the entire process.”

In September this year, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said it had obtained a copy of an agreement showing that Eswatini had accepted around 160 migrants from the United States.

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So far, Eswatini has received two groups of deportees from America: five in July and another ten in October. One of them was immediately sent on to Jamaica, his country of origin.

Although this is the first time the government has confirmed receiving the funds, Mdluli told the BBC that the government had previously stated that the U.S. was paying for the refugees’ upkeep and their return to their home countries.

Lawyers' associations and civil society groups in Eswatini have begun taking the government to court, accusing it of implementing a decision they say is illegal.

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The U.S. government says some of the migrants it sent to Eswatini come from Jamaica, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and Yemen. Eswatini’s correctional services authority stated that all of them were received “and housed in safe locations” and that they pose no threat to the public.

Besides Eswatini, other countries including Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda have joined this U.S. program, and some have already received the first groups. Uganda agreed to host migrants but only accepted those originating from the African continent.