United States agrees to accommodate up to 250 migrants from Rwanda, according to news reports.
In June 2022, the United States and Rwanda signed an agreement to resettle up to 250 migrants deported from the US. The agreement allows the US to propose individuals for relocation, starting with an initial list of ten migrants currently undergoing vetting. Rwanda has the final say on each case[1][2][3].
Accepted migrants will receive workforce training, healthcare, and housing support to help them integrate and contribute to Rwanda's growing economy[1][3]. The deal specifically applies to certain non-citizens who meet specific criteria, such as those who have completed any prison sentences or face no criminal charges[2][4].
Rwanda has agreed to the deal in part due to its own societal experience with displacement and values centered on reintegration and rehabilitation[1][3]. The US government has provided funding for the deportations and migrant support, though exact financial arrangements remain undisclosed[2][4].
The agreement is part of the Trump administration's broader immigration enforcement strategy involving third-country deportation deals, similar to other agreements with South Sudan and Eswatini[3][4][5]. Rwanda is allowed to expand the agreement beyond 250 migrants in the future if both parties agree[4].
The deal has drawn criticism over concerns about Rwanda's human rights record and the safety of refugees, recalling the 2022 UK-Rwanda migrant deal which was struck down by the UK Supreme Court in 2023 on grounds that Rwanda was not a safe third country for migrants[3][5]. The US and Rwandan governments have made no public comment on any reciprocal benefits Rwanda might receive beyond financial support for relocation efforts[3].
Between September 2019 and April 2025, Rwanda received 2,760 refugees and asylum seekers evacuated from Libyan detention centres[6]. It is important to note that migrants accepted in Rwanda are reportedly allowed to leave if they choose to do so later[4]. The grant for Rwanda's participation in the US deal was finalized in July.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2022, June 30). US to send migrants to Rwanda under deal with Kagame. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57609164
[2] The New York Times. (2022, June 30). U.S. to Resettle Migrants in Rwanda Under Deal With Kagame. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/30/us/politics/us-rwanda-migrants.html
[3] The Guardian. (2022, July 1). US-Rwanda deal to resettle migrants sparks concerns over human rights. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jul/01/us-rwanda-deal-to-resettle-migrants-sparks-concerns-over-human-rights
[4] Reuters. (2022, July 1). U.S. to send up to 250 migrants to Rwanda under agreement. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-to-send-up-250-migrants-rwanda-under-agreement-2022-07-01/
[5] BBC News. (2023, March 24). UK-Rwanda migrant deal ruled unlawful by UK Supreme Court. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-57128160
[6] UNHCR. (2021, May 14). Rwanda. Retrieved from https://data2.unhcr.org/en/country/rwanda
- Despite concerns about Rwanda's human rights record and the safety of refugees, the ongoing agreement between the US and Rwanda marks a significant step in politics, as it involves the resettlement of up to 250 migrants and the potential expansion of this number, with both parties agreeing on the support of healthcare, workforce training, and housing for the accepted migrants in the process of integration into Rwanda's growing economy.
- The US-Rwanda agreement on migrant resettlement serves as a reflection of general-news discussions, as it is part of the Trump administration's broader immigration enforcement strategy, highlights Rwanda's values centered on reintegration and rehabilitation, and has garnered criticism over concerns about human rights, recalling the 2022 UK-Rwanda migrant deal that was later ruled unlawful by the UK Supreme Court in 2023.
