Seven migrants from the United States in mid-August arrived in Rwanda marking the beginning of a resettlement initiative agreed upon earlier this year. The arrangement allows Rwanda to receive up to 250 vetted individuals, each approved on a case-by-case basis.
Yolande Makolo, spokesperson for the Rwandan government, confirmed that the group is currently hosted by an international organization. Their welfare is being overseen by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) along with Rwanda’s social services team.
Of these first arrivals, three have expressed a wish to return to their home countries, while the remaining four intend to rebuild their lives in Rwanda. Individuals who choose to settle will receive support such as healthcare, vocational and training.
This resettlement agreement, quietly finalized in Kigali in June 2025, is part of a broader U.S. policy under the Trump administration to transfer migrants to third countries. It includes provisions to send individuals who have completed their sentences and excludes those with pending criminal charges or convictions for sexual offenses involving minors. The deal also includes a financial grant to Rwanda, terms of which have not been publicly disclosed.
Rwanda has drawn on its own experience with displacement to justify its participation. The government emphasizes its ability to provide integration services and humanitarian assistance.
Rwanda joins South Sudan and Eswatini as one of the few African countries to have entered such agreements with the U.S. However, these arrangements have drawn criticism from rights groups, who warn they may contravene international law and potentially expose deportees to danger
