Rwanda has agreed to accept up to 250 migrants deported from the United States under a new deal reached with President Donald Trump’s administration, as part of the US government’s renewed push to deport undocumented migrants. Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo confirmed the agreement, stating that the deportees would receive workforce training, healthcare, and accommodation to help them restart their lives in the East African nation.
A key condition of the agreement is that Rwanda will maintain the right to approve each migrant proposed for resettlement. While the White House has not publicly commented on the specific terms of the deal, a spokesperson emphasized ongoing discussions with countries willing to cooperate with efforts to remove what the administration has described as “illegal aliens” allowed to enter under the previous Biden administration.
This move is part of a broader strategy by President Trump, who returned to office in January 2025, to swiftly carry out mass deportations an issue that has remained central to his political platform. US officials have reportedly been reaching out to several African nations whose governments are willing to accept migrants, particularly those whose home countries have refused their return. Eswatini and South Sudan have already taken in some deportees, including individuals convicted of crimes.
The agreement with Rwanda has stirred significant international attention and debate, especially following earlier speculation in May when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that Washington was seeking countries to take individuals he called “some of the most despicable human beings.” Rwanda has defended its decision by emphasizing its own history of displacement and the values of reintegration and rehabilitation that emerged from its post-genocide recovery.
Yolande Makolo echoed this sentiment in her remarks, noting that nearly every Rwandan family has endured the pain of displacement and that the country is committed to offering a second chance to those facing hardship. Her statement reflects Rwanda’s broader humanitarian policy, which includes a prior agreement with the UN and African Union that saw nearly 3,000 refugees evacuated from detention camps in Libya between 2019 and 2025.
Rwanda has already played a controversial role in global migration policy. In 2022, the country signed a high-profile agreement with the UK Conservative government to resettle asylum seekers. However, the UK scrapped the scheme in 2024 after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer assumed office, citing legal and ethical concerns. Despite this, the UK had already paid Rwanda £240 million ($310 million), and it remains unclear what has become of the facilities built to accommodate UK-bound migrants.
Reports from Reuters suggest the United States may provide an unspecified grant to Rwanda as part of the current deal, although this has not been officially confirmed. Makolo stated that further details would be released once they are finalized.
The resettlement arrangement has sparked criticism from human rights advocates, who argue that transferring migrants to a third country, particularly one that is not their country of origin could violate international law. Concerns have also been raised about Rwanda’s human rights record, with critics warning that deportees may be at risk of further relocation to unsafe destinations.
Nonetheless, Rwandan authorities maintain that the country offers a safe and stable environment for resettled individuals. Rwanda continues to deny accusations of involvement in supporting the M23 rebel group in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, a claim that has complicated the country’s diplomatic reputation. In June 2025, Rwanda and DR Congo signed a ceasefire agreement in Washington as part of a broader peace initiative aimed at ending decades of regional instability.
This new deal with the United States reinforces Rwanda’s emerging role as a partner in international migration management, though it remains under scrutiny for the legal and ethical implications of such arrangements.
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