Rwanda has agreed to accept up to 250 migrants and asylum seekers deported from the United States, under a deal finalized with the Trump administration, government officials confirm. The agreement, negotiated in Kigali in June, makes Rwanda the third African nation to participate in the U.S.’s third-country deportation policy, following deals with South Sudan and Eswatini.
Under the arrangement, each deportee must be individually vetted and approved by Rwandan authorities before arriving. The country will provide workforce training, healthcare, and housing support to approved arrivals, facilitating their integration into one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies.
“Rwanda has agreed with the United States to accept up to 250 migrants, in part because nearly every Rwandan family has experienced displacement,” said government spokesperson Yolande Makolo.
So far, an initial list of 10 migrants has been sent to Kigali for approval. U.S. officials have not publicly commented on the deal, which may be expanded by mutual consent. Those deported do not face detention and are free to leave Rwanda at any time.
Human rights groups warn the policy may violate international law by sending migrants to countries where they lack ties and risk facing abuse. Rwanda defends the agreement based on national values of rehabilitation and displacement resilience.
