Rwanda has reached an agreement to receive 250 undocumented immigrants expelled from America as part of President Trump's extensive deportation initiative.
The East African nation will utilise housing facilities initially constructed for Britain's abandoned asylum seeker transfer programme, which consumed £700 million in taxpayer funds.
The arrangement, finalised in June, grants Rwandan officials authority to assess potential arrivals before acceptance.
Those selected will benefit from employment preparation, medical services and housing assistance upon arrival.
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|Rwanda has reached an agreement to receive 250 undocumented immigrants expelled from America as part of President Trump's extensive deportation initiative
The infrastructure, originally intended for the UK's legally challenged deportation plan that never materialised, now serves this new American partnership.
"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," confirmed Yolande Makolo, representing the Rwandan government.
She explained that the agreement permits Rwanda to evaluate each person suggested for relocation.
"Those approved will be provided with workforce training, healthcare and accommodation support to jump-start their lives in Rwanda, giving them the opportunity to contribute to one of the fastest growing economies in the world over the last decade," Makolo stated.
The Trump administration sought to expel millions residing unlawfully in America, arranging transfers to various nations including El Salvador, South Sudan and Eswatini.
Rwanda established specific criteria for acceptance, refusing individuals with pending criminal proceedings or convictions for child sexual offences, and accepting only those who had completed their sentences.
The arrangement permits expansion beyond the initial 250-person limit if both nations consent.
Significantly, those transferred to Rwanda retain complete freedom of movement and may depart whenever they choose.
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|The infrastructure, originally intended for the UK's legally challenged deportation plan that never materialised, now serves this new American partnership
Several individuals, including an Iraqi citizen, have already arrived as part of preliminary trials.
The Labour Party terminated Britain's deportation programme last year following extensive legal obstacles, leaving behind costly infrastructure.
The British initiative consumed approximately £700 million, covering payments to Rwanda, construction of housing facilities, chartered aircraft that never flew, and wages for over 1,000 government employees who developed the unsuccessful scheme.
Hope Hostel in Kigali, initially prepared for British deportees, now functions as an administrative centre for the American-Rwandan programme, according to a Rwanda Housing Authority representative.