Rwanda US Deportation Agreement 2025: Deal Raises Concern After UK Plan Failed

Rwanda has agreed to accept up to 250 deportees from the U.S. under the Rwanda US deportation agreement 2025, a new deal backed by the Trump administration. It marks the third time an African country has accepted migrants with no previous connection to the receiving nation.

Rwanda’s government confirmed the agreement on Tuesday. Spokesperson Yolande Makolo stated that Rwanda would approve each individual case before resettlement. However, she didn’t say when the deportees would arrive or whether they would come in groups or individually.

U.S. Expands Migrant Removals to Africa

In July, U.S. officials deported 13 men to South Sudan and Eswatini. The government labeled them dangerous and said their home countries had refused to take them back. Under Trump’s current policy, the U.S. is seeking more such agreements across Africa and Latin America.

Earlier this year, the U.S. also deported hundreds of Venezuelans and others to Costa Rica, Panama, and El Salvador.

Rwanda Steps in After UK Deal Collapse

Rwanda previously gained global attention in 2022 when it signed a migrant agreement with the UK. That deal intended to send asylum seekers to Rwanda to process their claims. If approved, they would remain in the country.

However, rights groups condemned the agreement, calling it unethical and unsafe. In 2023, the UK Supreme Court ruled the deal unlawful. When a new Labour government took power, it officially canceled the plan.

Secret Deportations Raise Human Rights Questions

The Trump administration has faced backlash for quietly sending migrants to countries like South Sudan and Eswatini. These deportees included men from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Some were held in a shipping container at a U.S. base in Djibouti while awaiting legal decisions.

In Eswatini, five deported men are being held in solitary confinement. A local human rights lawyer said they’ve been denied access to legal counsel and has taken the matter to court. Eswatini is Africa’s last absolute monarchy, where political parties are banned.

Rwanda Promises Reintegration for Deportees

Makolo said Rwanda’s decision reflects its values of “reintegration and rehabilitation.” She explained that deportees accepted under the deal will receive housing, healthcare, and workforce training.

These efforts, she added, aim to help them contribute to Rwanda’s fast-growing economy. The government did not say whether it received compensation for accepting the deportees.

Political and Strategic Motivations

Gonzaga Muganwa, a political analyst in Kigali, said Rwanda may be seeking closer ties with the Trump administration. “Appeasing President Trump pays,” he noted. The country is pursuing long-term strategic interests with the U.S.

The UK’s failed deal with Rwanda cost taxpayers around $900 million. About $300 million went directly to Rwanda, which later said it would not refund the money.

Rights Concerns Persist

Although Rwanda is often praised for its stability and development, rights groups say the government suppresses dissent. President Paul Kagame, in power for 25 years, has faced criticism for crackdowns on opposition voices.

Some fear that migrants deported under the Rwanda US deportation agreement 2025 may face unclear futures. As deportations rise, the debate continues over the legal and ethical implications of sending individuals to unfamiliar and politically fragile nations.

Source: AP News