Rwanda’s government has acknowledged it is in the initial stages of discussions with the Trump administration about accepting migrants deported from the United States.
Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe confirmed the development during an interview with Rwandan TV on Sunday, saying the conversations were “not new to us,” as Rwanda had previously made similar arrangements with the United Kingdom, reports the BBC. He added that the government was The US is
The talks come as President Donald Trump pushes forward with his campaign promise of “mass deportations” of undocumented illegal migrants. Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has sought agreements with third countries willing to receive deported individuals.
Last month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the administration was “actively searching” for governments willing to accept what he described as “some of the most despicable human beings.”
Rwanda is one of several nations that has signaled openness to such arrangements. In March, a Rwandan official told the Washington Post that the country had already accepted an Iraqi migrant expelled by the US and said that talks with the Trump administration began shortly after the January inauguration. The same official noted Rwanda was “open” to accepting more.
In February, El