• Rwanda is in early-stage talks with the US about receiving deported migrants.
• The proposed deal follows a scrapped agreement between Rwanda and the UK for similar purposes.
• Concerns have been raised regarding Rwanda's human rights record and the safety of migrants sent there.

Rwanda has confirmed it is in the early stages of negotiations with the Trump administration regarding the acceptance of migrants deported from the United States. Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe stated that discussions are ongoing but still at a preliminary phase, emphasizing that it is not the first time Rwanda has engaged in such agreements, as it previously worked on similar deals with the UK, UN, and African Union, particularly regarding migrants stranded in Libya, according to The Jakarta Post, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.

The US administration is reportedly seeking international partners to facilitate a mass deportation initiative, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighting the intent to offload "some of the most despicable human beings" to distant countries. This rhetoric has raised eyebrows, particularly in light of previous arrangements that failed, such as the UK's abandoned deal with Rwanda described as a "gimmick" by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as per BBC, South China Morning Post, and The New York Times.

Among the main concerns discussed by critics is Rwanda’s human rights record, which has faced significant scrutiny. Major concerns include the potential for deported migrants to face human rights abuses or be returned to their home countries, thus risking their safety. This issue is amplified by the recent deportation of an Iraqi man with alleged ties to ISIS under the Trump administration’s policies, as reported by Africa News and AllAfrica.

Rwanda's potential agreement with the US might involve accepting migrants with criminal records who would be integrated into society rather than detained, a notable shift from the hardline immigration policies characteristic of the current US administration. Rwanda has previously been criticized for its limited resources and oppressive domestic policies, raising alarms about the country’s capacity to safely resettle additional migrants, according to NPR, The Jakarta Post, and Al Jazeera.