The Rwandan government has confirmed that it has received the first set of migrants sent from the United States under a controversial resettlement arrangement.
According to officials in Kigali, seven migrants arrived in mid-August after being vetted for relocation.
Government spokesperson Yolande Makolo disclosed that while three of the individuals expressed interest in returning to their countries of origin, four have opted to remain in Rwanda and rebuild their lives.
“Their arrival marks the beginning of a process that gives these migrants an opportunity for safety, dignity, and the possibility of starting afresh,” Makolo said. She, however, declined to reveal the nationalities of the deportees.
Earlier this month, Rwanda announced its readiness to host as many as 250 migrants from the United States.
The government stressed that it would assess each case individually before granting approval for resettlement.
For now, the new arrivals are being housed under the supervision of an international humanitarian agency, with support from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Rwandan social services.
Authorities say the deportees will be provided with accommodation, healthcare, and vocational training to help them settle.
The deal is part of Washington’s push to expand third-country deportations, a policy strongly backed by President Donald Trump.
His administration has pursued similar talks with other nations, including South Sudan and Eswatini, arguing that such agreements are necessary since some home governments refuse to take back deported citizens.
This is not Rwanda’s first attempt at such an arrangement.
In 2022, Kigali signed a high-profile deal with the United Kingdom to host migrants, but the plan collapsed following a change of government in London.
Rights groups had fiercely opposed the deal, warning it violated international law and endangered vulnerable people.
Makolo defended the U.S. agreement earlier in August, noting that Rwanda’s own history of displacement gives it empathy for migrants.
“Nearly every Rwandan family has lived through the challenges of forced migration,” she said.
Rwanda, with a population of about 13 million, has built a reputation for stability and modern infrastructure in the Great Lakes region.
However, President Paul Kagame’s administration continues to face criticism from international observers who accuse it of suppressing political dissent and press freedom.
Human rights advocates have warned that outsourcing deportations risks sending migrants into unsafe conditions where they could face persecution, abuse, or even torture, a concern that continues to cloud these controversial deals.