Trump Administration Reaches New Deportation Agreement With Rwanda Amid Border Enforcement Push

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The Trump administration has finalized a deportation deal with Rwanda that will allow the East African nation to accept up to 250 illegal immigrants removed from the United States. This move is part of a broader effort by the administration to secure America’s borders and address the growing burden of illegal immigration.

Under the agreement, Rwanda will evaluate and approve each individual case before accepting deportees. Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo confirmed that the country has “the ability to approve each individual proposed for resettlement,” and emphasized that Rwanda would be exercising discretion in the process. The deal marks Rwanda as the third country willing to receive individuals the U.S. is deporting, following earlier transfers to South Sudan and Eswatini.

A State Department official told Fox News Digital that ongoing cooperation with nations like Rwanda is “vital to deterring illegal and mass migration and securing our borders.” The official also noted that the United States is continuing diplomatic efforts with foreign governments to find practical solutions when deportation to a person’s country of origin is not feasible.

Last month, the Trump administration deported 13 illegal immigrants described as “dangerous criminals” to African countries after their home nations refused to accept them back. This action aligns with the administration’s broader strategy of removing individuals who pose a risk to public safety, especially those whose presence was allowed under the previous administration’s more lenient immigration policies.

In early July, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the administration, affirming that the United States has the authority to deport individuals to third countries, not just their nations of origin. This ruling has given the administration greater legal footing to pursue alternative deportation arrangements, particularly with cooperative foreign governments.

The Trump administration has also carried out deportations to countries such as Costa Rica, Panama, and El Salvador, targeting migrants who had no legal basis to remain in the United States. A White House official stated that diplomatic partnerships are key to undoing the consequences of what the administration calls “the immigration failures under Joe Biden.”

Rwanda previously entered a similar agreement with the United Kingdom in 2022, though that deal was overturned by Britain’s Supreme Court in 2023 after the Labour Party took power. Critics raised concerns about Rwanda’s human rights record, which led to the British court ruling that the country did not qualify as a safe third nation for migrants.

Despite criticism, the Trump administration remains committed to strict border enforcement and has made it clear that it will continue pursuing deals with foreign nations to deport individuals who have entered or remained in the country illegally.