Rwanda’s government has confirmed that it is in preliminary discussions with the United States about a possible agreement to receive migrants deported from American soil.
This revelation comes less than a year after a similar migrant relocation deal between Rwanda and the United Kingdom collapsed under heavy scrutiny.
Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said on Monday that the dialogue was still in its initial stages. “It has not yet reached a stage where we can say exactly how things will proceed, but the talks are ongoing,” he explained. “Still in the early stages.”
This announcement follows recent remarks made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who indicated that the Trump administration is actively looking for countries willing to accept undocumented immigrants and other noncitizens as part of a broad deportation campaign.
“We are working with other countries to say, ‘We want to send you some of the most despicable human beings to your countries. Will you do that as a favour to us?’ And the farther away from America, the better, so they can’t come back across the border.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
According to unnamed officials, discussions are underway between the two nations, although neither country has publicly disclosed specific terms. In addition to Rwanda, the US is also reportedly considering Libya as a possible relocation destination for deported migrants.
Details emerging from reports suggest that the United States is proposing to fund the initiative by offering Rwanda financial compensation to accept migrants with criminal records who have already completed their sentences in the US.
These individuals may also receive stipends and job placement assistance to facilitate their integration into Rwandan society—an attempt to prevent them from attempting to re-enter the US.
Early Talks On Migrant Relocation
This initiative mirrors a controversial move made in March, when the US deported an Iraqi national to Rwanda. That transfer, according to documents and officials cited in American outlets, may serve as a template for future deportations under the proposed scheme.
The talks are part of President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration crackdown, which began immediately after he secured a second term in office this January. His administration has escalated efforts to detain and deport individuals perceived to be a threat, often bypassing standard legal procedures.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has come under fire for its attempts to send alleged gang members to a high-security prison in El Salvador without due process. Legal challenges are mounting, especially in light of reports that a Salvadoran citizen living in Maryland was wrongfully deported to El Salvador. Despite this controversy, Trump remains undeterred.
Last month, the president made further waves when he suggested that even “homegrown criminals” — a term interpreted to mean US citizens — should be deported. As part of this wider immigration policy, he ordered the expansion of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to house as many as 30,000 individuals whom he labeled the “worst criminal aliens.”
Critics have blasted these policies as inhumane and legally questionable. Human rights groups warn that deals with nations like Rwanda, which are far removed from migrants’ home countries and where monitoring of their treatment is difficult, raise ethical concerns. Moreover, observers note that such deportation agreements are likely to strain diplomatic relations and place additional burdens on receiving countries.
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