Rwanda has agreed to receive up to 250 migrants deported from the United States, following a bilateral agreement signed in June 2025. Government spokesperson Yolande Makolo framed the move as consistent with Rwanda’s national ethos of “reintegration and rehabilitation,” referencing the country’s own legacy of displacement.

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Under the arrangement, deportees will undergo thorough screening before departure and will be offered housing, healthcare, and job training upon arrival—support mechanisms designed to help them integrate into the African country.

According to U.S. officials, an initial list of 10 individuals has already been submitted for approval. Rwanda will accept only those who have served any required prison sentences and who have no outstanding criminal charges. Offenders convicted of crimes such as child sexual abuse will be categorically excluded.

The agreement does not force deportees to remain in Rwanda permanently. To assist with the resettlement process, the U.S. is reportedly providing Kigali with financial support through a grant tied to integration benchmarks, though exact figures remain undisclosed.

This initiative aligns with a broader Trump administration policy of mass deportations to third countries, often based on racist criteria and disregarding the right to due process. In May, the Trump administration unveiled efforts to start “third-party” deportations to countries in Africa as well.

Human rights advocates have voiced concern, warning that such policies could leave migrants stranded in unfamiliar nations without social ties or legal safeguards.

Rwandan officials, however, insist the country is equipped to manage such resettlements responsibly. Kigali previously engaged in similar talks with the United Kingdom in 2022 and the United Nations regarding migrants in Libya—though those agreements were never fully enacted.

Reuters reported that Rwanda will be paid for accepting the, although the amount is not yet known.

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