Rwanda says it’s talking with the US about taking in third-country deportees. Here’s why

By CARA ANNA Rwanda drew international attention and particular outrage by agreeing to take in Britain s rejected asylum-seekers in a plan that collapsed last year Now Rwanda says it is talking with the Trump administration about a similar idea and it might find more success Related Articles An Israeli plan to seize the Gaza Strip is met with alarm Ukraine drone attacks briefly shut down Moscow s international airports Cardinals wrap up pre-conclave meetings still uncertain about who should follow Pope Francis Threatened by Trump tariffs Japan walks a delicate tightrope between US and China years after World War II Germany is still painstakingly searching for its fallen soldiers The negotiations mark an expansion in U S efforts to deport people to countries other than their own It has sent hundreds of Venezuelans and others to Costa Rica El Salvador and Panama but has yet to announce any major deals with governments in Africa Asia or Europe Rwanda has long stood out on the continent for its recovery from the genocide that killed over ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus in as it has promoted itself under longtime President Paul Kagame as an oasis of stability But human rights groups allege that the veneer of order has a painful price with sometimes deadly crackdowns on perceived dissent Rwanda has argued that despite being one of Africa s preponderance densely populated countries it has space to help alleviate what various countries in Europe and the United States consider to be a growing difficulty with unwanted foreigners What s been noted so far Rwanda s foreign minister verified to The Associated Press on Monday that talks were under way with the U S about a prospective agreement to host deported foreigners after telling state media the talks were in the early stage Olivier Nduhungirehe did not give details but noted it was consistent with Rwanda s long-standing commitment to the pursuit of migration solutions The U S State Department declined to comment on a possible deal but declared engagement with foreign governments is an crucial part of the U S authorities s program to deter illegal migration Local media reports in Rwanda have suggested the U S likely would fund a campaign to have settlers integrated into society through stipends and job assistance initiatives The failed Rwanda-Britain deal The U K struck a deal with Rwanda in to send foreigners who arrive in the U K as stowaways or in boats to the East African country where their asylum insists would be processed and if productive they would stay The plan was stalled by legal challenges and criticized by human rights groups who called it unethical to deport movers to a country miles miles away that they don t want to live in The plan collapsed last year after the new Labour leadership took charge The U K s new home secretary called the plan the the bulk shocking waste of taxpayer money I have ever seen and estimated the cost at million pounds million in citizens funds No flights to Rwanda took off under the plan but the U K regime mentioned the failed plan s costs included million pounds in payments to Rwanda Rwanda has explained it was not obligated to refund the money Human rights concerns Human rights advocates have long raised concerns over the deaths in Rwandan custody of specific perceived governing body critics as well as the alleged killings of others who sought exile in places like South Africa Rwanda at times has responded with angry denials to reports documenting human rights abuses including the abduction and imprisonment of a U S resident who was tricked onto a Kigali-bound aircraft while visiting Dubai He was later freed after Biden administration pressure Rwanda is also criticized over its aggressive military actions in the region United Nations experts have documented Rwandan endorsement for the rebel uprising that this year seized two cities in neighboring eastern Congo an area rich in mineral wealth The unrest led to fears of a resurgence of regional war and a number of Western countries cut relations or restricted aid Rwanda has declared it is defending ethnic Tutsis in Congo The Trump administration which sanctioned a Rwandan regime minister and cited links to the rebels is trying to broker a peace deal Agreeing to take in deportees from the U S could improve Rwanda s standing with Washington and others Rwanda s history with settlers Rwanda in struck a deal with the U N refugee agency to help take in settlers removed from Libya where a multitude of people trying to reach Europe have published abuses in detention The U N says the transit center in Rwanda has threshold for evacuees Late last year it stated over people had been assisted in what is meant to be a temporary stay during efforts to find long-term solutions including resettlement elsewhere Before its deal with Britain collapsed Rwanda demonstrated off another transit center a refurbished hostel in Kigali that could host people with more accommodations made available as needed Rwanda declared expatriates would have their papers processed within three months People could stay or bureaucrats would assist those who wished to return to their home countries Rwanda explained it would bear full financial responsibilities for five years It is not clear whether such terms would be part of a deal with the United States