Rwanda Confirms Ongoing Talks with US on Accepting Deported Migrants

Rwanda’s Foreign Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, confirmed that the country has entered early-stage discussions with the United States to receive migrants deported from American soil. This potential deal emerges less than a year after a similar migrant relocation agreement between Rwanda and the United Kingdom collapsed. Nduhungirehe stated in an interview with Rwanda TV that the discussions are ongoing but have not yet reached a definitive stage.

This development aligns with efforts by the US administration, led by President Donald Trump during his second term, to intensify deportations of undocumented immigrants and noncitizens. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently announced the administration's search for foreign nations willing to accept deported individuals, particularly those with criminal histories. In a televised cabinet meeting, Rubio stated that the US wants to send “the most despicable human beings” to distant countries to prevent their return, and Rwanda was one of the countries under consideration. Libya is also reportedly being explored as a potential destination.

According to media reports, the US proposal includes paying Rwanda to receive deported migrants who have completed their prison sentences and providing them with stipends and employment assistance. The intention is to integrate them into Rwandan society while deterring any attempts to re-enter the US. A precedent for this model may have already been established in March, when the Trump administration deported an Iraqi national to Rwanda.

These discussions are part of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, a hallmark of his second presidency, which has included controversial measures and legal challenges. Among them is the continued effort to send alleged gang members to El Salvador’s high-security prisons without due process. Furthermore, controversy erupted recently over the wrongful deportation of a Salvadoran citizen from Maryland to El Salvador, prompting Trump to express support for deporting even “homegrown criminals”—a reference to US citizens. He has also authorized the reopening of a detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to house up to 30,000 individuals labeled as “the worst criminal aliens.” In a recent interview, Trump questioned whether those in the US are guaranteed constitutional due process rights.

If the Rwanda-US migrant deal materializes, it would mark Rwanda’s second attempt at such an agreement. The previous plan with the UK, which aimed to transfer asylum seekers from Britain to Rwanda, was struck down by the British Supreme Court in November 2023 as unlawful. The new Labour government, elected thereafter, officially terminated the agreement in July, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissing it as a “gimmick.” Rwanda is currently seeking £50 million (approximately $66 million) in compensation from the UK over the cancelled deal.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has raised serious concerns about the safety of individuals deported to Rwanda, warning that some might be returned to countries they fled, risking persecution or death. Rwanda has firmly rejected these claims and accused the UNHCR of spreading misinformation. While the full scope of the talks between the US and Rwanda remains unconfirmed, the developments signal renewed interest in migrant relocation programs and highlight the global implications of US immigration policy.