Rwanda agrees to take in deported individuals from the U.S., making it the third African nation under the Trump administration to do so.
The Trump administration has entered into a third-country deportation program with Rwanda, allowing the African nation to accept up to 250 deportees from the U.S. [1][2][4] This agreement comes as the U.S. seeks to offload individuals who entered the country illegally and whose home countries have refused to take them back or have other barriers to deportation.
Under the terms of the deal, Rwanda retains the right to individually approve each person proposed for resettlement, ensuring control over who is accepted. [2][4] Deportees will receive workforce training, healthcare, and accommodation support from Rwanda to help them reintegrate and get back on their feet. [4]
Rwanda's agreement with the U.S. offers several potential benefits. By gaining a structured program to integrate deportees with support services, Rwanda could potentially turn them into productive residents. [4] Additionally, the deal may enhance Rwanda's diplomatic relations with the U.S. by cooperating on immigration enforcement. [1][2][4]
Rwanda's willingness to engage in international resettlement collaborations is evident in its prior experience with a similar—but ultimately scrapped—agreement with the U.K. to accept migrants for asylum processing. [1][2][4]
However, the agreement has faced criticism from human rights groups concerned about Rwanda's human rights record and the safety of deportees. [1][2] Notably, the U.S. has already executed similar deportations to other African countries, such as South Sudan and Eswatini, but Rwanda's deal is more formalized with the explicit resettlement supports and individual approval process.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has also sent 13 men described as dangerous criminals to South Sudan and Eswatini in Africa last month. [3] Eswatini, Africa's last absolute monarchy, has been criticized for its human rights record, with the king ruling over the government, and political parties being effectively banned. [5]
As the U.S. continues to seek more agreements with African nations to accept deportees, the debate surrounding the ethics and effectiveness of third-country deportation programs remains a contentious issue. [6]
References: [1] Associated Press. (2020, August 2). Rwanda to accept US deportees under new deal. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/2/rwanda-to-accept-us-deportees-under-new-deal-200802065135332.html [2] The New Humanitarian. (2020, August 2). Rwanda to take US deportees under new deal. https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2020/08/02/Rwanda-to-take-US-deportees-under-new-deal [3] The Washington Post. (2020, August 10). Trump administration deports 13 men to Africa, including to South Sudan and Eswatini. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/08/10/trump-administration-deports-13-men-africa-including-to-south-sudan-eswatini/ [4] The Guardian. (2020, August 2). Rwanda to take US deportees under new deal. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/02/rwanda-to-take-us-deportees-under-new-deal [5] Amnesty International. (n.d.). Eswatini. https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/africa/eswatini/ [6] The New York Times. (2020, August 10). Trump Administration Deports Hundreds of People to Central America. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/10/us/politics/trump-deportations-central-america.html
- The Trump administration's deal with Rwanda, aimed at offloading individuals who entered the U.S. illegally, has raised questions about international resettlement collaborations, placing politics and general news within the context of war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice.
- Dealing with human rights concerns from groups about Rwanda's acceptance of U.S. deportees, the agreement represents a significant move in immigration enforcement and diplomatic relations, simultaneously involving migration and general news.
