Authorities in Rwanda confirmed that seven migrants were flown in from the United States in mid-August, marking the first transfers under a new deportation agreement between Washington and Kigali.
Rwanda has pledged to accept up to 250 people expelled by the U.S. under the deal, which was finalized earlier this year.
Government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said the individuals were vetted before departure and are being supported by international aid organizations.
The arrivals are housed in temporary facilities where they receive assistance from Rwanda’s social services and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
According to officials, three deportees have requested voluntary return to their home countries, while four others expressed interest in settling in Rwanda.
Those who stay will be offered training, housing support, and health services to help them integrate.
Rwanda is among four African states—alongside Uganda, Eswatini, and South Sudan—that signed secretive migration pacts with Washington.
Under these arrangements, the U.S. has already deported small groups of people to Eswatini and South Sudan.
In July, eight men from countries including Myanmar, Mexico, and Vietnam were sent to South Sudan following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allowed broader removals.
Rights groups have sharply criticized these agreements, raising concerns about the lack of transparency, limited oversight, and safety risks for deportees in host nations.
Uganda has publicly stated it will only accept migrants who have no criminal records and are not unaccompanied minors.
The Biden administration had previously criticized similar U.K.–Rwanda relocation plans, but under President Trump’s return to office, U.S. policy has shifted toward outsourcing deportations to African partners as part of a broader crackdown on irregular migration.