Rwanda is currently in preliminary discussions with the United States regarding the potential acceptance of migrants facing deportation from the US, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe. This announcement follows US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's comments last month that the US was "actively searching" for nations willing to take in individuals deemed undesirable.
Nduhungirehe highlighted that engaging in discussions about accepting migrants is not a novel endeavor for Rwanda, as the country had previously reached an agreement to receive deported migrants from the UK. However, the UK’s plans faltered amid legal disputes after the Labour government led by Sir Keir Starmer took office last July.
During a recent interview, Nduhungirehe emphasized Rwanda's commitment to giving migrants "another chance" and described the ongoing dialogues with the US as continuing work without a clear resolution on the horizon. The context of these talks is framed by US President Donald Trump's aggressive stance on immigration and the promise of "mass deportations" of undocumented migrants.
Earlier this year, El Salvador proposed to accept criminals deported from the US, including US citizens, offering housing in a mega-jail in exchange for compensation. Other Central American nations like Panama and Costa Rica have also accepted US-deported migrants.
Recently, a Rwandan official confirmed that the East African nation is "open" to taking in more migrants expelled from the US and pointed out that discussions with US officials began shortly after Trump's inauguration. Rwanda has previously accepted migrants, including an Iraqi individual in March, despite facing criticism regarding its human rights practices and the potential for deportees to be sent back to dangerous conditions.
Nevertheless, Rwandan officials maintain that the country is a secure location for refugees, amidst ongoing scrutiny of its human rights record.
