The United States and Rwanda have finalized an agreement for the East African nation to accept up to 250 migrants deported from the U.S., Rwandan officials confirmed.

The deal, signed in Kigali in June and first reported by Reuters, aligns with Washington’s efforts to accelerate deportations, particularly for individuals with criminal records.

According to a Rwandan government official, the U.S. has already provided an initial list of 10 individuals for vetting under the resettlement program. Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo emphasized that the agreement reflects the country’s humanitarian values. “Nearly every Rwandan family has experienced the hardships of displacement, and our societal values are founded on reintegration and rehabilitation,” Makolo said.

Under the terms of the deal, Rwanda will review each migrant’s case individually. Approved individuals will receive workforce training, healthcare, and accommodation support to facilitate integration into Rwanda’s fast-growing economy. The U.S. will provide an undisclosed grant to fund the resettlement program, with the possibility of extending the agreement beyond the initial 250 migrants by mutual consent.

The agreement stipulates that only migrants who have completed prison sentences or have no ongoing criminal cases will be eligible for relocation. Rwanda has explicitly refused to accept individuals convicted of child sex offenses, and there is no provision for deportees to serve U.S. sentences in Rwanda.

This is not Rwanda’s first foray into such arrangements. In 2022, Kigali signed a controversial deal with the United Kingdom to accept thousands of asylum seekers, though the plan was scrapped in 2024 by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer following legal challenges. Rwanda’s experience, combined with its economic transformation under President Paul Kagame since the 1994 genocide, has positioned it as a destination for migrants Western nations seek to relocate. However, human rights groups have raised concerns about political repression and Rwanda’s alleged involvement in conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, claims Kagame denies.

The U.S.-Rwanda deal coincides with Washington’s broader diplomatic efforts, including a June peace agreement mediated by the U.S. to address the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo. The White House and State Department have not commented on the migrant deal, with the Department of Homeland Security referring inquiries to the State Department.

The agreement is part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to partner with third countries, such as South Sudan and Eswatini, to expedite deportations. Critics argue that such policies raise ethical questions about the treatment of migrants and the human rights records of receiving nations, while supporters view them as a necessary step to enforce immigration laws. (ILKHA)