Rwanda is engaged in early discussions with the United States to receive migrants deported from American soil, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe revealed on Sunday. The announcement, made during a televised interview on state broadcaster Rwanda TV, highlights Kigali’s ongoing efforts to position itself as a destination for migrants that Western countries seek to expel.
“We are in discussions with the United States,” Nduhungirehe said. “It has not yet reached a stage where we can say exactly how things will proceed, but the talks are ongoing… still in the early stages.”
This development follows Rwanda’s controversial track record in migration agreements. In 2022, Kigali signed a deal with the United Kingdom to take in thousands of asylum seekers, a move that drew sharp criticism from rights organizations and the United Nations. That deal was later scrapped in 2023 by newly-elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Human rights groups and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) have repeatedly raised concerns about Rwanda’s suitability as a host country for vulnerable migrants. They warn that Kigali’s track record on human rights including allegations of forced returns of asylum seekers poses significant risks. The Rwandan government, however, has denied the accusations, accusing the UNHCR of spreading misinformation.
The United States, under the administration of President Donald Trump, has stepped up immigration enforcement since the start of his second term in January. Trump’s policies have included a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration, cuts to the refugee resettlement program, and a push to deport non-citizens, including those with prior resettlement status.
Last month, the U.S. deported a resettled Iraqi refugee to Rwanda, citing allegations of links to the Islamic State. The move drew international attention and criticism from rights advocates.
In another controversial case, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting a group of Venezuelan migrants accused of gang affiliation, after the administration invoked a rarely used wartime law to justify the deportations.
As talks between Rwanda and the U.S. continue, questions remain about the ethical and legal implications of outsourcing migration responsibilities to third countries.
