Seven migrants deported from the United States have arrived in Rwanda, marking the beginning of a deal established with the Trump administration to transfer a total of 250 migrants to the African nation. According to Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo, this initial group arrived in mid-August. She did not disclose their nationalities, explaining that four will remain in Rwanda, while three will return to their countries of origin.
There are concerns from rights organizations regarding the potential violation of international law if individuals are sent to countries where they may face torture or other forms of abuse. Since taking office for a second term in January, President Trump has emphasized a broad scheme for mass deportation of undocumented migrants from the U.S. At least twelve nations have reportedly agreed to accept deported migrants from various countries.
Makolo stated that all deported individuals will receive necessary support and protection from the Rwandan government. The migrants are currently being housed by “an international organization” and are set to meet with officials from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Rwandan social services. An IOM spokesperson confirmed that they have assessed the basic needs of the migrants but did not provide additional details.
In previous statements, Makolo indicated that Rwanda is fulfilling this agreement partly due to the country’s own history of displacement. Rwanda, which experienced a genocide in the mid-1990s, aims to provide a safe environment for the migrants despite criticisms regarding its human rights practices.
This recent initiative follows Rwanda’s involvement in a program with the UN refugee agency that evacuated nearly 3,000 refugees from Libya between September 2019 and April 2025. Additionally, Rwanda had previously reached a deal with the UK in 2022 to accept asylum seekers, although that scheme was terminated following a change in government, resulting in a significant payment to Rwanda for the facilities built for these individuals. The financial aspects of the current agreement with the U.S. remain unclear. In June, the Trump administration facilitated a peace deal between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of ongoing efforts to stabilize the region. Rwanda has been accused of supporting rebel groups in this context, which it has denied.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg4xp2my0vo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss