Key Takeaways
• Trump administration struck first deportation deal with Rwanda, sending Iraqi refugee Omar Amin on March 13, 2025.
• The US paid Rwanda $100,000 per group for social services, legal papers, and work permits for deported migrants.
• Negotiations continue with Libya and other countries amid growing human rights concerns and significant political debate.
The Trump administration is engaging in talks with Libya 🇱🇾 and Rwanda 🇷🇼 about sending some migrants from the United States 🇺🇸 to these countries, especially those with criminal records or who cannot be sent back to their home countries. These discussions are part of a bigger plan to find new places for deported migrants when their home countries refuse or delay taking them back. This move highlights a strong approach to immigration, but it also raises several concerns and questions that matter to migrants, their families, human rights groups, and even countries that might accept these individuals.
Current Negotiations: Libya and Rwanda as New Destinations
At the center of this effort, the Trump administration has reached out to Libya and Rwanda to start talks about deporting certain migrants there. The talks mainly focus on people with criminal records and those who, while living in the United States without legal status, cannot return home because their home countries are not accepting them fast enough or at all.
Stephen Miller, former White House Senior Policy Advisor known for pushing strict immigration rules, is said to be leading these talks. The administration isn’t just limiting itself to Libya and Rwanda—it’s also thinking about other countries such as Benin 🇧🇯, Eswatini 🇸🇿, Moldova 🇲🇩, Mongolia 🇲🇳, and Kosovo 🇽🇰 as possible destinations.
This approach shows the administration’s commitment to finding new ways to reach its immigration and deportation goals, even when traditional methods face obstacles because of delays or political disputes with migrants’ home countries.
Rwanda Agreement: First Steps Already Taken
Talks with Rwanda have moved further along compared to the negotiations with Libya. On March 13, 2025, the US embassy in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, sent a cable confirming that Rwanda was willing to accept deported migrants. This message didn’t just stay on paper; it led to the first official deportation under this new arrangement, when an Iraqi refugee named Omar Amin was flown to Rwanda.
This agreement with Rwanda included a payment of $100,000 from the United States. Rwanda will use this money for social services, to help deportees get residency papers, and to allow them to work. On top of accepting Omar Amin, Rwanda has said it will take in 10 more “third country nationals”—which means individuals from various countries, not just Iraq or the United States. Rwanda is hoping to work with the United States to build a more organized plan that would cover more people in the future.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, these deals are not only about money. The United States is also offering political support and assistance in return for cooperation from countries like Rwanda. This, in turn, might influence how these countries handle their own immigration, economy, and ties with the United States.
Why the Trump Administration Is Taking This Path
This policy shift fits into the Trump administration’s wider strategy, which aims to sharply increase the number of immigrant deportations. There is a target of removing one million migrants per year. This target is much higher than numbers seen in recent years or under previous White House policies.
However, results so far have not matched these ambitions. Within the first 100 days of this latest administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removed just over 12,300 people in March 2025. This is far below the yearly goal. The Trump administration wants to speed up the process and cut through the slowdowns caused by countries that delay or refuse to take back their citizens.
With home countries sometimes slow or even unwilling to accept their own nationals, the administration is trying to offer both financial rewards and political perks to new countries if they will accept deported migrants. This is not fully new; a similar idea appeared in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧, when its Conservative government proposed sending asylum seekers to Rwanda. However, the plan there ended when the Labour government took office in 2024 and canceled it.
The Case of Libya: Worries About Human Rights and Safety
Talks with Libya are not as far along as those with Rwanda. But these discussions worry many people, especially human rights workers. Libya has had many years of political unrest and serious security issues. There are frequent reports about the poor treatment of migrants in the country, including abuse and even exploitation in detention centers.
Many groups warn that sending people to such a dangerous environment could put lives at risk. There are reports of physical and mental abuse, forced work, and other harsh conditions faced by migrants inside Libya. For people being sent there from the United States, these risks could get even worse, especially if there is little oversight by the US or the international community.
Critics say making a deal with Libya might look like a simple fix on paper but can create much more serious problems on the ground. This is especially true considering the country’s unstable government and the regular violence that affects people living there, including migrants.
Questions About Monitoring and Support in Rwanda
While Rwanda is seen as more politically stable than Libya, it presents its own set of questions. The biggest challenge is the simple fact of distance—the United States and Rwanda are on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Once deportees arrive in Rwanda, it becomes very hard for US authorities to keep track of their situation or make sure their rights are protected.
Critics point out that it is not easy for the US government or human rights groups to regularly check on deportees’ well-being in Rwanda. There are worries about how quickly or fairly deported persons can access housing, work, and other services they need, even if there is financial support upfront.
There is also the issue of what happens next. Rwanda is open to working with the United States to set up a more organized program, but details about this plan—like the number of people to be deported, the long-term support available, and how people’s rights will be protected—are still unclear.
Comparison to Other International Approaches
The Trump administration’s plan has drawn comparisons to efforts by other countries to send migrants to third nations. The United Kingdom, for example, reached an agreement with Rwanda in the past to send asylum seekers there. That plan was met with strong criticism from human rights groups and parts of the public, and it was eventually canceled after a change in government.
Such comparisons show the growing trend among some countries to look for outside partners when dealing with people they want to remove but cannot send home. These arrangements can sometimes offer short-term political gains, but they also raise big questions about ethics, legal rights, and the long-term well-being of the deportees.
Financial and Political Incentives
The Trump administration is using a mix of strategies to reach its deportation goals. Offering financial aid, like the $100,000 payment to Rwanda for each set of deportees, is one part. Promising broader political support or future help with other issues is another.
This kind of incentive may encourage countries that are short of money or want to strengthen their ties with the United States. However, these deals can sometimes create extra pressure for the receiving country, especially if their public is not fully informed or does not agree with the plan.
The payment made to Rwanda covers not only the cost of social services and documents, but also helps to ease the practical issues of receiving new people, sometimes from very different cultures and languages.
What Human Rights Groups and Critics Say
Many human rights groups have expressed serious worries about these proposed and ongoing deals. In Libya, the big concern is whether deported migrants will be safe. With a long record of political violence, weak government, and mistreatment of foreigners, Libya is viewed as a dangerous place for vulnerable people.
In Rwanda, concerns are less about violence and more about monitoring and lasting support. Critics say once the deportees arrive, there is little assurance that their basic needs will be met in the long run. The distance between the United States and Rwanda means there’s less ability for US officials or non-governmental organizations to check conditions on the ground.
Some people also worry these moves may encourage other countries to adopt similar tactics, possibly leading to a wider practice of “outsourcing” tough cases instead of addressing problems through fairer or more humane systems.
The Impact on Migrants and Their Families
For many migrants facing deportation, news about being sent to countries like Libya or Rwanda creates a lot of fear and stress. It changes the conversation from whether they will be deported to where they will end up—a country they may never have visited, where they might have no friends or family, and where they might not feel safe.
This uncertainty can affect whole families, especially if some members remain in the United States while others are sent halfway across the world. It also puts extra pressure on communities both in the US and in the receiving countries, as they try to adapt to new arrivals and make sure they have what they need to survive.
What Happens Next?
So far, only one deportation to Rwanda has happened under the new deal. The Trump administration has not released a full list of future deportees or more details about next steps. Ongoing talks with Libya and other countries could lead to more countries joining these types of agreements.
It’s too early to say whether this approach will help the United States reach its deportation goals or if it will run into new legal, ethical, or practical problems. Much will depend on how these arrangements are carried out in practice, what steps are taken to protect deportees’ rights, and whether or not the United States and its partners are able to keep their promises for oversight and support.
Looking Forward
People interested in these developments can follow ongoing updates from the US government through the official US Department of State website, which publishes news on international agreements and related policy changes.
As the plan unfolds, it will be important for everyone involved—governments, human rights groups, and especially migrants and their families—to pay close attention to both the letter and spirit of these agreements. This includes asking tough questions about safety, fairness, and what happens when people are sent far from the country they once called home.
In summary, the Trump administration’s talks with Libya and Rwanda mark a new path for US immigration enforcement. The goals are clear: to move past obstacles set by uncooperative home countries and to sharply increase deportation numbers. But as with any major shift, the impacts will be felt far beyond those targeted for deportation, touching lives, sparking debates, and shaping international partnerships for years to come.
Learn Today
Deportation → The formal removal of a person from a country, typically after violating immigration laws or lacking legal status.
Third Country Nationals → Individuals not native to the sending or receiving countries, often relocated when their home country cannot take them.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) → US federal agency enforcing immigration laws and facilitating the removal of unauthorized or criminal aliens.
Political Incentives → Benefits or support offered to another country in exchange for cooperation on immigration or deportation agreements.
Refugee → A person fleeing their home country due to persecution, war, or violence and seeking protection in another country.
This Article in a Nutshell
The Trump administration has begun sending migrants, including those with criminal records, to countries like Rwanda after deals offering financial and political incentives. Talks are ongoing with Libya and others. These steps signal a bold deportation strategy, sparking criticism, policy questions, and widespread debate on migrants’ rights, safety, and international ethics.
— By VisaVerge.com
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