Rwanda has agreed to receive up to 250 migrants from the United States as part of a new resettlement arrangement with President Donald Trump’s administration. The deal, confirmed by Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo, includes provisions for workforce training, healthcare, and housing to help deportees rebuild their lives in Rwanda.
Makolo emphasized that Rwanda retains the right to approve each individual proposed for resettlement. While the White House has not officially commented on the agreement, a spokesperson told reporters that the administration is actively engaging with countries willing to assist in deporting undocumented migrants, blaming former President Joe Biden for allowing them to “infiltrate” the US.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has prioritized a large scale deportation initiative, fulfilling a key campaign promise. Speculation about a deal with Rwanda began in May, when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington was seeking countries to accept what he described as “some of the most despicable human beings.”
The Trump administration has approached several African nations to accept migrants whose home countries refuse repatriation. Eswatini and South Sudan have recently accepted deportees, including individuals with criminal convictions.
Makolo explained Rwanda’s decision by referencing the country’s own history of displacement, noting that nearly every Rwandan family has experienced such hardship. She said Rwanda’s values are rooted in reintegration and rehabilitation, echoing earlier remarks from the foreign affairs minister who described the country’s leadership as guided by a spirit of offering second chances to migrants in need.
Rwanda has a track record of hosting displaced individuals. Under a 2019 agreement with the UN refugee agency and the African Union, nearly 3,000 refugees and asylum seekers stranded in Libya were relocated to Rwanda between September 2019 and April 2025. Many have since been resettled in other countries.
The country also previously entered into a controversial asylum deal with the UK in 2022, under the Conservative government. That plan was later abandoned by the Labour government led by Sir Keir Starmer in July 2024, despite the UK having paid £240 million ($310 million) and constructing housing facilities in Rwanda. The fate of those facilities remains unclear.
According to Reports, an unnamed Rwandan official claimed the US would provide Kigali with a financial grant as part of the new deal, though this has not been officially confirmed. Makolo stated that further details would be released once finalized.
Human rights advocates have voiced concerns about the legality of relocating migrants to third countries, warning that such practices may breach international law. Rwanda has faced criticism over its human rights record and the potential risk of onward deportation to unsafe destinations.
Despite these concerns, the Rwandan government insists it can offer a secure environment for migrants. The country has also faced scrutiny for allegedly supporting the M23 rebel group involved in conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo an allegation Rwanda denies.
In June, Rwanda and DR Congo signed a ceasefire agreement in Washington as part of a broader peace initiative aimed at resolving decades of regional instability.
