Rwanda in Talks with US to Accept Deported Migrants
Kigali, Rwanda – May 5, 2025 – Rwanda has confirmed it is holding preliminary discussions with the United States to accept migrants deported under President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration crackdown.
Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungireh announced the development during an interview with Rwandan television, stating that the talks are still in the early stages and no final agreement has been reached. He emphasized Rwanda’s philosophy of offering “another chance” to individuals facing deportation or hardship worldwide.
“These discussions are not new to us,” Nduhungireh said, referencing Rwanda’s past deal with the United Kingdom to receive asylum seekers—an agreement the UK later scrapped due to political and legal challenges after a change in government.
The potential arrangement comes after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed in April that Washington was “actively seeking” countries willing to accept “some of the most despicable human beings” being expelled from the United States.
President Trump, who returned to office in January, has made mass deportations a cornerstone of his renewed immigration agenda. His administration has approached several countries, including El Salvador, which recently agreed to house deported criminals in its controversial mega-prison in exchange for financial compensation.
Nduhungireh reiterated Rwanda’s commitment to humanitarian support and global cooperation but stressed it was too early to predict the outcome of the US negotiations.
The proposed partnership could mark another chapter in Rwanda’s role on the global migration stage, sparking both praise and criticism regarding the ethics and logistics of such international deportation deals.
