Deportation Pact: Rwanda Discusses Hosting U.S. Migrants After Failed UK Deal

Rwanda has confirmed that it is in the early stages of negotiations with the Trump administration over a controversial agreement that could see it receive deported migrants from the United States. This development follows the collapse of a similar arrangement with the United Kingdom last year and comes amid increasing U.S. efforts to externalise its immigration enforcement.

Speaking to Rwanda TV on Sunday, Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said discussions with the U.S. are ongoing, although “not yet at a stage where we can say exactly how things will proceed.” He stressed that the talks align with Rwanda’s long-standing approach to “offering migration solutions,” despite global scrutiny of the country’s human rights record.

Expansion of U.S. Deportation Strategy

The proposed agreement would mark an expansion of U.S. attempts to deport non-citizens, including those with criminal records, to third countries. Washington has previously arranged for deportees to be received in Latin American nations such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Panama. If successful, a Rwanda deal would be the first of its kind in Africa.

Also read: DR Congo and Rwanda Sign Agreement to End Ongoing Conflict

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently stated that the administration is seeking “distant” countries willing to accept deportees. “The farther away from America, the better, so they can’t come back across the border,” Rubio said during a televised cabinet meeting.

Rwandan media reports suggest the U.S. would fund integration efforts in Rwanda, including stipends and job placement programmes for deported individuals, to deter them from returning to the United States.

Echoes of the UK-Rwanda Deportation Pact

The potential deal follows Rwanda’s high-profile but failed 2022 agreement with the UK government to host migrants who had entered the UK irregularly. The plan collapsed after a ruling by Britain’s Supreme Court in 2023, which deemed the deal unlawful due to human rights concerns. The subsequent Labour government scrapped the plan entirely, calling it “a shocking waste of taxpayer money.” Rwanda is still pursuing £50 million in outstanding payments from the UK related to the deal.

While no migrants were ever sent to Rwanda under the UK agreement, the country showcased refurbished transit centres and pledged to process claims within three months, either integrating individuals or facilitating their return to home countries.

Human Rights Concerns and International Reactions

Human rights groups, including the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), have raised alarm over Rwanda’s treatment of dissenters and refugees. Allegations include deaths in custody, disappearances of political opponents abroad, and the forced return of asylum seekers.

UN experts have also accused Rwanda of fuelling conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo through military support to rebel groups. Kigali denies these allegations, claiming it is defending ethnic Tutsis from persecution in Congo.

Despite these concerns, Rwanda maintains that it is a capable and willing partner in addressing the global migration crisis. The government has previously worked with the UNHCR to host evacuated migrants from Libya, assisting more than 2,400 people through a transit facility in Kigali.

In a separate case last month, the Trump administration deported a resettled Iraqi refugee to Rwanda, citing links to the Islamic State—a transfer viewed by officials as a potential model for future deportations.

Regional Stability at Stake

The African Union and several Western nations have expressed concern about the potential repercussions of externalised migration deals. UNHCR has warned that migrants sent to Rwanda could be forcibly returned to countries they fled, risking further human rights violations.

Rwanda, a country still navigating its post-genocide legacy, continues to walk a fine line between presenting itself as a regional problem-solver and defending against persistent criticisms of authoritarian governance.

As negotiations with the Trump administration unfold, global observers are closely watching whether Rwanda’s ambitions to become a preferred partner for Western migration enforcement will override concerns about rights and accountability.