The Rwandan government spokesperson and an official recently stated that hundreds of illegal immigrants who are being deported from the United States will be accepted by the African country, according to an agreement reached between the US and Rwanda.
An anonymous Rwandan official disclosed that Washington has already sent a preliminary list of 10 individuals. The agreement was signed by American and Rwandan officials back in June in the Rwandan capital of Kigali. Under this agreement, Rwanda is set to accommodate up to 250 illegal immigrants.
Yolande Makolo, the spokesperson for the Rwandan government, mentioned, “Rwanda has reached an agreement with the United States to accept up to 250 immigrants. Almost every Rwandan family has experienced displacement, but our societal values remain unchanged, aiming to guide our society towards recovery.”
Makolo further explained, “As per the agreement, Rwanda will be capable of approving each individual proposed for resettlement by the US. Approved individuals will receive vocational training, healthcare, and accommodation support to kickstart their lives in Rwanda, providing them with the opportunity to contribute to one of the fastest-growing economies globally over the past decade.”
The goal of the Trump administration is to deport millions of illegal immigrants in the United States, thus seeking to increase efforts for deportation to third countries, including sending convicted criminals to South Sudan and the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Despite concerns from human rights groups about fundamental rights possibly not being respected in Kigali, Rwanda has positioned itself in recent years as a destination country for migrants that Western countries hope to deport.
In May of this year, the Rwandan Foreign Minister stated that Rwanda was in early negotiations to receive immigrants deported from the US. In 2022, Rwanda signed an agreement with the UK to receive thousands of asylum seekers, an agreement canceled last year by then-UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The Trump administration asserts that deporting to third countries helps in promptly repatriating immigrants with criminal records. Hardliners on immigration also view third-country deportation as a way to deal with criminals who are difficult to deport and may pose a threat to the public.
Opponents criticize this deportation method as both dangerous and cruel, as individuals may be sent to countries with which they have no connection or shared language, potentially facing violence.
The Trump administration continues to urge countries to accept illegal immigrants being expelled from the US. The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration in June to deport immigrants to third countries.
(Adapted from a report by Reuters)