As part of the agreement between the US and Rwanda concerning the hosting of 250 deportees in Kigali, the first group of unwanted immigrants has arrived in the East African nation. In return for its role, Rwanda expects to receive grants from the US.

Other African nations that have signed similar deals include Uganda, South Sudan and eSwatini.

According to a source at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Rwanda, at least 30 deportees arrived last week, with another group expected this week.

They are currently being accommodated at the IOM-Rwanda and Red Cross premises, the source said.

“But the IOM accommodation facilities are not spacious enough to house over 200 people so other mechanisms will be considered,” the source said.

The IOM Rwanda premises usually host a small number of refugees from Rwandan camps for screening before they are relocated to third countries.

Questions remain regarding where the deportees will be accommodated, with speculation rife that they might be moved to the same facilities that were previously designated for migrants from the UK before the deal fell through. The two designated facilities for UK migrants are the Hope Hostel and the Riverside Estate, both of which remain vacant to date.

The US-Rwanda deal comes at a time when the African Development Bank and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have signed an action plan to promote the inclusion of refugees in Rwanda. This plan aims to integrate refugee needs into national development efforts, thereby reinforcing the humanitarian-development nexus, while also aligning with Rwanda’s national priorities and the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees.

Tim Shoffner, the UNHCR Rwanda external relations officer, said that the government has not contacted them regarding the deportees from the US.

“Informally, I have heard about their arrival, but formally, we have not been informed. We are yet to know what our role will be, and we need to know if they fall in the category of refugees that we take care of,” he said.

Rwanda has fought back against criticism from those who allege that it has a poor human rights record. Some have accused Kigali of stifling dissent and suppressing freedom of expression, thereby closing the political space and making Rwanda an unsuitable country for asylum seekers.

The government has vehemently rejected these accusations, terming them a political witch-hunt by its detractors.

Upon arrival, migrants from the US are expected to receive workforce training, healthcare, and accommodation to help them settle in the country.

Yolande Makolo, the Rwandan government spokesperson, was not immediately available to comment on this new development, but she confirmed the deal earlier this month.

“Rwanda has agreed with the United States to accept up to 250 migrants, in part because nearly every Rwandan family has experienced the hardships of displacement, and our societal values are founded on reintegration and rehabilitation," she said.

"Under the agreement, Rwanda has the ability to approve each individual proposed for resettlement. Those approved will be provided with workforce training, healthcare, and accommodation support to jumpstart their lives in Rwanda, giving them the opportunity to contribute to one of the fastest-growing economies in the world over the last decade."

In recent years, Rwanda has played a significant role as a third country for refugees. Between 2019 and 2025, the country received over 2,700 refugees and asylum seekers from Libya, primarily from the Horn of Africa, Cameroon and Nigeria. They are hosted in an emergency transit mechanism centre in the Eastern Province, and many have gone on to settle in Canada and Europe.