Rwanda may agree to host relocated migrants

Rewritten Article:

Rwanda's chats with the Trump administration are brewing about possibly taking American deportees; this could be the first African country to break such an agreement since Trump ignited his anti-immigrant crusade.

Rwanda's Foreign Affairs Minister, Olivier J.-P. Nduhungirehe, confirmed that his country is in preliminary talks about hosting deportees from the U.S., but it's too early to crown any conclusions about the deal's success.

The State Department was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

A Long-standing Ally

Rwanda has positioned itself as a partner for Western nations seeking to slam the brakes on immigration. It offers to house migrants and refugees for a fee, sometimes even accepting them without upfront payment.

However, critics argue that Rwanda isn't a safe haven, given its strained resources and shaky human rights record. Past instances of intimidation and surveillance of migrants and refugees have raised eyebrows.

Under Trump's watch, immigration crackdowns have become a staple. High-profile deportation flights have become commonplace. In March, Trump even invoked an 18th-century law to eject hundreds of presumed gang members from El Salvador, despite a federal judge's efforts to halt this action. Washington is hunting for nations willing to accommodate deportees hailing from the U.S.

The Trump administration is also flexing its muscles, using diplomatic pressures to persuade countries to take back their citizens deported from the U.S. and threatening retaliation on those reluctant to comply. In early April, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked all visas for South Sudanese nationals, after that East African country declined to accept its deportees.

Rwanda already welcomes migrants abandoned by other countries, including hundreds of African refugees from Libya awaiting resettlement, under a pact with the UN Refugee Agency. Rwanda has also inked an agreement with Denmark to boost collaboration on asylum and migration, and has housed African migrants deported by Israel.

Scrapped U.K. Deal

Rwanda had previously agreed to a 2022 deal with the U.K. to accommodate asylum seekers from third countries, under a contentious scheme subsequently deemed illegal by the U.K. Supreme Court. As the Conservative government gave the deal a much-needed push last year, around four individuals voluntarily moved to Rwanda from the U.K. By the time Labor Prime Minister Keir Starmer revoked the deal last July, over 290 million pounds (1.3 billion Canadian dollars) had already been paid to Rwanda, which refused to refund the amount.

These negotiations between Rwanda and the U.S. come at a time when the U.S. is in talks with Congo to hammer out a peace accord to end their ongoing conflict.

Reuters reports that the U.S. already deported an Iraqi refugee, Omar Abdulsattar Ameen, to Rwanda. Minister Nduhungirehe didn't mention this during his televised interview on Rwanda-TV.

This report was initially published in The New York Times. Read the original version (in English; subscription required)

Enrichment Data:

Current Status:

This article reports on the ongoing negotiations between Rwanda and the Trump administration regarding potential deportations from the U.S.

Repercussions:

Human Rights Debate: The ultimate agreement could face criticism for its potential violation of international refugee law and endangerment of migrants.
Diplomatic Implications: If finalized, the deal may strain U.S. diplomatic relations with Rwanda, similar to the U.K. deal abandoned over legal and ethical concerns.
International Precedent: The deal could set a precedent for other nations to outsource migration enforcement to Rwanda, compromising their abilities to handle asylum requirements.

The talks between Rwanda and the Trump administration revolve around the possible acceptance of American deportees, which could mark a first in African history since the initiation of the anti-immigrant campaign.
Critics voice concerns regarding the safety of migrants and refugees in Rwanda, citing its strained resources, shaky human rights record, and past instances of intimidation.
The Trump administration has been exerting pressure on countries to accept their own deported citizens, threatening retaliation on those who refuse, as evident in the revoking of visas for South Sudanese nationals.
In the midst of negotiations, Rwanda has a history of accommodating migrants from other countries, including refugees from Libya, as well as agreements with Denmark and Israel on asylum and migration matters.