Rwanda’s Foreign Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, has confirmed that the country is in the early stages of negotiations with the United States to accept migrants who are being deported from American soil. Speaking during an interview with state-run Rwanda TV on Sunday evening, Nduhungirehe stated that while discussions are ongoing, they have not yet reached a point where details of the arrangement can be finalized or publicly outlined.
This development marks the latest chapter in Rwanda’s efforts to position itself as a destination for migrants rejected by Western nations, a controversial stance that has drawn criticism from international human rights organizations. While Rwanda has argued that its migration policies are rooted in humanitarian principles, watchdog groups and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have raised alarms over Kigali’s track record on civil liberties, due process, and the potential for refoulement the illegal return of asylum seekers to countries where they face persecution.
Rwanda previously entered into a high-profile agreement with the United Kingdom in 2022 to receive thousands of asylum seekers, mainly those who had crossed into Britain illegally. That deal, struck under then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, faced widespread criticism and was ultimately scrapped in 2023 by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who cited legal and ethical concerns.
Talks with the United States appear to be part of a broader push by the administration of President Donald Trump who began his second term in January, to expand aggressive deportation policies. The Trump administration has made use of a rarely invoked wartime authority to fast-track removals of migrants accused of criminal affiliations, including suspected gang members and individuals labeled as national security threats. Just last month, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked the deportation of a group of Venezuelan migrants under this law, citing procedural irregularities.
Among those already deported to Rwanda is a resettled Iraqi refugee accused by the Iraqi government of ties to the Islamic State. The U.S. had sought his extradition for years, and his recent removal raises fresh questions about Rwanda’s willingness and legal framework to manage such high-risk deportees.
The UNHCR has warned that migrants sent to Rwanda under these kinds of deals may face further risks, including being forcibly returned to the countries they originally fled an accusation Rwanda has firmly denied, accusing the UN agency of misinformation.
Rwanda’s government has positioned itself as a stable and secure alternative for migrants, but critics argue that its authoritarian governance style under President Paul Kagame undermines the very protections that asylum seekers are meant to receive. International NGOs have also noted restrictions on press freedom, political opposition, and judicial independence within Rwanda.
As talks with the United States continue, observers are watching closely to see whether the potential agreement will prioritize legal safeguards and human rights compliance or mirror the same criticisms that plagued the UK-Rwanda asylum deal. Any final agreement will likely face scrutiny from advocacy groups, legal experts, and international institutions monitoring the global refugee and migrant landscape.
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