Discussion Underway with U.S. on Accepting Deported Migrants: Rwanda's Foreign Minister
Rwandan discussions with the United States are heating up, with the foreign minister confirming plans to accept immigrants deported from the Land of the Free. This dialogue comes just months after a similar endeavor with Britain hit a snag.
Olivier Nduhungirehe, Rwanda's foreign minister, casually mentioned on state broadcaster Rwanda TV that talks regarding the potential influx of immigrants are ongoing, with nothing finalized yet. He added, "We are still in the early stages."
Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sounded the alarm, looking for countries willing to take on undesirables as the Trump administration ramps up deportation efforts. "We want to send you some of the most despicable human beings to your countries," Rubio declared during a televised meeting with Trump. "And the farther away from America, the better, so they can't come back across the border."
Rwanda's confirmation follows reports of anonymous officials from both countries discussing this arrangement. It appears the US is also considering Libya as another dumping ground.
Allegedly, the US wants to pay Rwanda to accept migrants with a criminal record who have served their sentences in the US, offering financial stipends and job assistance to incentivize their integration. If true, this could leave a bad taste for those who remember the debacle with Britain.
Last march, the Trump administration already deported an Iraqi national to Rwanda, potentially setting the stage for more overseas expulsions.
This move aligns with Trump's aggressive stance on immigration, which has been at the forefront since he took office in January for his second term. The administration has faced legal challenges as it attempts to continue sending accused gang members to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador without due process.
Amid the ongoing saga, Trump himself questioned whether citizens of the US have the right to due process, as constitutionally guaranteed.
If sealed, this new agreement wouldn't be Rwanda's first encounter with Western deportees. In 2024, the UK's then-newly elected Labour government cancelled a deal that sent rejected asylum seekers to Rwanda, citing legal challenges and unlawful status of the agreement. Rwanda is still seeking reimbursement for the export of these refugees, demanding 50 million pounds from the UK.
Despite some warnings from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that some individuals sent to Rwanda may be returned to dangerous countries, Rwanda has vehemently denied these accusations, calling the UNHCR liars.
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- Rwanda's proposal to accept immigrants deported from the United States is part of a heated political discussion on immigration and migration.
- The potential agreement between Rwanda and the United States on accepting deportees could be a contentious issue in policy-and-legislation, given the controversial past of such arrangements, as demonstrated by the cancelled deal with the UK.
- The UNHCR has expressed concerns about the safety of individuals sent to Rwanda, adding another layer to the politics surrounding this migration issue.
- The ongoing talks between Rwanda and the United States regarding the acceptance of deportees comes at a time when immigration policies are under heavy scrutiny in the general news, with the Trump administration's aggressive stance and legal challenges being a major point of contention.
