Rwanda has agreed to accept up to 250 migrants deported from the United States, as part of a deal reached between the two countries earlier this year. The agreement, signed in June in Kigali, reflects the Trump administration’s escalating efforts to enforce hardline immigration policies through third-country deportations.
Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo confirmed the agreement, citing the nation’s deep-rooted history with displacement as a driving factor behind the decision. “Nearly every Rwandan family has experienced the hardships of displacement,” Makolo said. “Our societal values are founded on reintegration and rehabilitation.”
Under the terms of the deal, Rwanda retains the right to approve each individual on a case-by-case basis. Those accepted will receive support including accommodation, healthcare, and workforce training, aimed at helping them reintegrate and contribute to Rwanda’s fast-growing economy. An initial list of 10 individuals has already been submitted by U.S. authorities for vetting.
The United States will provide Rwanda with a financial grant to support the arrangement. Although the exact amount has not been disclosed, Rwandan officials confirmed the grant letter was finalized in July. The agreement also allows for expansion beyond the initial 250 migrants by mutual consent. Deported individuals will not be detained in Rwanda and are free to leave the country if they choose.
Kigali, however, will not accept deportees with active criminal cases or those serving prison sentences in the U.S., and no individuals convicted of child sex offenses will be approved.
This move comes amid broader efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to deport migrants to third countries. Past deportations included over 200 Venezuelans sent to El Salvador and similar efforts targeting South Sudan and Eswatini. Supporters say such transfers remove individuals deemed a threat to public safety, while critics argue they are inhumane and potentially expose deportees to danger.
While the White House and State Department have not commented on the Rwanda deal, legal challenges to third-country deportations continue in U.S. courts. In June, the Supreme Court allowed such removals without requiring evidence of potential harm, though the policy is under review in a federal lawsuit in Boston.
This is not Rwanda’s first time entering such an arrangement. A previous agreement with the United Kingdom to host asylum seekers was abandoned last year by the UK’s newly elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer, following protracted legal battles and strong public opposition.
Rwanda’s role as a diplomatic and migration partner has grown in recent years, with President Paul Kagame receiving international praise for post-genocide economic progress, despite persistent concerns from rights groups over alleged human rights violations and regional military involvement.
The U.S.-Rwanda migrant agreement coincides with Rwanda’s participation in U.S.-led peace efforts to end conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where thousands have died and hundreds of thousands have been displaced in 2025 alone.
Written By Rodney Mbua
