Rwanda to Accept 250 U.S. Deportees as Part of Bilateral Agreement
Rwanda has reached an agreement to accept up to 250 migrants deported from the United States, following a bilateral deal signed in June 2025. Government spokesperson Yolande Makolo characterized the initiative as aligned with Rwanda’s national ethos of “reintegration and rehabilitation,” highlighting the country’s historical context of displacement, reports 24brussels.
As part of the arrangement, deportees will undergo comprehensive screening prior to departure and will receive housing, healthcare, and job training upon their arrival in Rwanda. These support systems are intended to facilitate their integration into the country.
The U.S. has provided an initial list of 10 individuals for approval, under the condition that only those who have completed any required prison sentences and do not face outstanding criminal charges will be accepted. Offenders convicted of severe crimes, such as child sexual abuse, will be strictly excluded from the program.
The agreement allows for flexibility, as deportees are not mandated to remain in Rwanda permanently. To aid in their resettlement, the U.S. is reportedly offering financial assistance to Kigali, connected to specific integration benchmarks, though the precise amounts involved have not been disclosed.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy adopted during the Trump administration, promoting mass deportations to third-party countries, often criticized for discriminatory criteria that overlook migrants’ rights to due process. In May, the Trump administration announced plans to initiate similar deportations to various African nations.
Human rights organizations have raised alarms about the potential consequences of such policies, cautioning that they may leave migrants in precarious situations in unfamiliar locations, devoid of social networks or legal protections.
Nonetheless, Rwandan officials assert their capacity to handle these resettlements responsibly. Kigali had previously engaged in similar discussions with the United Kingdom in 2022 and the United Nations concerning migrants in Libya, although those agreements were never realized.
According to reports from Reuters, while Rwanda will receive compensation for accepting these deportees, the specific amount remains undisclosed.
