Faith Nyasuguta
The United States is edging closer to signing a migration deal with Rwanda that could see asylum seekers and migrants rejected at the U.S. border relocated to the East African nation. This move comes as part of President Donald Trump’s broader crackdown on illegal immigration, which includes offshoring deportees to partner countries.
If finalized, Rwanda would join a growing list of nations, including El Salvador, Mexico, and South Sudan, being tapped as potential migrant drop-off points. The U.S. State Department is reportedly working to establish “transfer agreements” with several countries to ease the pressure on overcrowded and costly detention centers.
Jacob Sapochnick, a San Diego-based immigration lawyer, told Bloomberg that limited space in detention facilities and soaring operational costs are driving the U.S. to seek overseas solutions. Rwanda, a country that has previously agreed to host migrants under controversial deals, is now in advanced talks with Washington.
However, the proposed U.S.- Rwanda partnership is sparking concern from human rights groups and migration experts. Critics question Rwanda’s capacity to handle large influxes of asylum seekers and highlight its track record on civil liberties. The U.S. has reportedly already used Rwanda as a deportation site. Earlier this year, an Iraqi national, Omar Abdulsattar Ameen, was quietly deported there at a cost of $100,000 to the American taxpayer.
Ameen’s case has long been mired in controversy, and his removal to Rwanda suggests that groundwork for a broader scheme may already be underway.
Observers have drawn parallels between the U.S. plan and the United Kingdom’s now-defunct “Rwanda scheme,” which was scrapped in 2024 by incoming Prime Minister Keir Starmer. That UK plan, initiated by the Conservatives in 2022, aimed to send asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing and resettlement. Despite a massive spend of £290 million paid directly to Rwanda, £50 million on failed flights, and £95 million on detention centers- the scheme saw almost no successful deportations. Rwanda later demanded an extra £50 million due to unfulfilled promises, while 280 contractors were laid off as the program collapsed.
Despite the UK’s failure, the U.S. seems poised to pursue a similar path. While Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe has confirmed discussions with the U.S., American officials remain tight-lipped. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently stated that the administration is “actively searching for other countries to take people”- adding bluntly, “the further away from America, the better.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations refugee agency says it has not been formally briefed on any such arrangement. UNHCR spokesperson Kathryn Mahoney stressed that any deal must respect the rights of asylum seekers and guarantee fair legal procedures. As Washington explores this controversial strategy of outsourcing migration control, questions remain over whether it will succeed, or face backlash like the UK’s failed attempt.
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