The United States and Rwanda have reached an agreement for the African nation to accept up to 250 migrants deported from the U.S. As part of this agreement, the U.S. has already submitted an initial list of 10 individuals for vetting.
This information was confirmed by Rwanda’s government spokesperson, Yolande Makolo, in an interview with Reuters.
Makolo confirmed that the agreement between the two governments was signed in Kigali in June, but was not made public at the time. The U.S. has since sent a list of 10 people to undergo vetting.
“Rwanda has agreed with the United States to accept up to 250 migrants, in part because nearly every Rwandan family has experienced the hardships of displacement, and our societal values are founded on reintegration and rehabilitation,” said Makolo.
She added that Rwanda retains the right to approve or reject each individual proposed for deportation:
“Under the agreement, Rwanda has the ability to approve each individual proposed for resettlement. Those approved will be provided with workforce training, healthcare, and accommodation support to jumpstart their lives in Rwanda, giving them the opportunity to contribute to one of the fastest-growing economies in the world over the last decade.”
Neither the White House nor the U.S. State Department has commented publicly on this agreement.
The deportation policy is part of President Donald Trump’s broader push to remove undocumented immigrants from the United States. During his election campaign and tenure, Trump promised to take tougher action on illegal immigration.
Following his re-election, his administration began exploring options to send migrants to countries such as Rwanda, South Sudan, and Eswatini.
This is not Rwanda’s first agreement of this kind. A previous migration deal with the United Kingdom was signed but later canceled under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government before it could be implemented.
In May this year, Rwanda’s Foreign Minister confirmed that initial discussions had begun with the United States on the possibility of hosting deported migrants.
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