Rwanda-US begin deportation talks

Rwanda-US deportation talks have begun for the East African country to accept migrants who are being deported from the US.

According to the BBC, the talks between the two countries are in the “early stage” as Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, has said.

Analysts believe the talks are taking place after the US has taken a strong stance on its border and immigration policy following the return of the Trump administration on the 20th of January 2025.

The administration’s hard stance on immigration was expressed by the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in April when he stated that Washington was “actively searching” for countries that would take in “some of the most despicable human beings”.

This is not the first time that Rwanda has been seen as a shipping destination for migrants which countries do not want in their country, as the UK had a deal where UK migrants were to be deported to the East African nation.

This deal is no longer in place as the new Labour government under Keir Starmer ended the Rwanda Scheme in July 2024.

With that scheme falling through, it appears that Rwanda is willing to replace it with a potential US deportation scheme.

Speaking to Rwanda TV on the 4th of May, Nduhungirehe stated that the government is happy to offer “another chance to migrants who have problems across the world”.

The outcome of the talks is still unpredictable, but many critics will see this as inhumane treatment of migrants as the Trump administration continues its promise of “mass deportations”.

The issue arises when these “mass deportations” have affected those who are US citizens, such was the case in alleged deportations to Honduras, which saw a potential of three US children deported to the south American country.

After the failed Rwanda scheme with the UK, Rwanda is now moving on to the US as the Trump administration continues to find ways to deport migrants by any means necessary.

BBC, Maghrebi.org, The Washington Post