Rwanda agrees to accept up to 250 migrants deported from US: report
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Rwanda has agreed to receive up to 250 migrants deported from the United States as part of a new deal reflecting the country's history of reintegration.
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Protesters stand outside the Supreme Court in London on November 15, 2023. (AP)
Rwanda has agreed to accept up to 250 migrants deported from the United States, according to a report by Politico citing Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo. The development marks a new phase in the ongoing US migrant deportation policy under the administration of US President Donald Trump.
"Rwanda has agreed with the United States to accept up to 250 migrants, in part because nearly every Rwandan family has experienced the hardships of displacement, and our societal values are founded on reintegration and rehabilitation," Makolo was quoted as saying on Monday.
Makolo emphasized that Rwanda's willingness to participate in the relocation of migrants stems from its national experience with displacement and its long-standing principles of reintegration and rehabilitation.
Trump administration’s deportation strategy
In January, US President Donald Trump, in his first speech as the 47th president, pledged to immediately halt illegal migration and initiate the extradition of millions of migrants. The Rwanda-US agreement now appears to be one of the early implementations of this broader immigration agenda.
On April 30, CNN reported, citing sources, that the Trump administration had discussed the possibility of relocating illegal migrants deemed dangerous to Rwanda and Libya. These discussions were part of efforts to manage the large number of individuals awaiting deportation in the US.
The decision to involve Rwanda underscores Washington's push to form bilateral agreements aimed at reducing the number of illegal migrants within its borders.
UK bill to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda
On a similar note, it is worth noting that the British government's contentious proposal to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda was granted approval by Parliament on April 23, 2024, nearly two years after its initial introduction during former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's term
The House of Lords, despite previously suggesting amendments, finalized its endorsement of the bill just after midnight, paving the way for it to become law. However, Keir Starmer later scrapped the deal, prompting Rwanda to seek compensation for what it considered a violation of trust.
The arrangement, signed in 2022, aimed to transfer individuals seeking asylum in the UK to Rwanda, where their cases would be processed. However, Britain's Supreme Court ruled against the policy in September 2023, stating that Rwanda was not a safe destination for asylum seekers. Although the UK had already transferred a substantial portion of the agreed-upon funds, Rwandan officials insist that an additional £50 million is still owed.
