Rwanda has agreed to receive up to 250 migrants deported from the United States, in a new deal aimed at strengthening its relationship with Washington, according to Politico.

The arrangement positions Kigali as a willing partner in the United States’ immigration policy, particularly under the administration of Donald Trump, which has sought to expand deportations.

Government spokesperson Yolande Makolo confirmed the agreement and said it aligns with Rwanda’s history of displacement and its values.

“Nearly every Rwandan family has experienced the hardships of displacement, and our societal values are founded on reintegration and rehabilitation,” she told Reuters.

Makolo added that the program will offer support services to help the deportees settle and integrate into Rwandan society. “Workforce training, health care and accommodation support” will be provided “to jump-start their lives in Rwanda,” she said.

A senior Rwandan official, who spoke anonymously, described the deal as more than just a humanitarian gesture. According to the source, the agreement is also a strategic move to strengthen Rwanda’s diplomatic position.

“When you're a small country, any time you can find a way, consistent with your policies and values, to talk to a major country about something it cares about, rather than always asking it to take an interest in you – it creates a more balanced relationship,” the official said.

The US State Department has already submitted a list of names to Kigali, with the first group of 10 expected to arrive soon. Their nationalities have not been disclosed.

Unlike previous deportation arrangements involving other countries, Rwanda will not detain the migrants. While El Salvador reportedly received $6 million from the US to host migrants in detention, the funds in Rwanda’s case will go toward supporting immigration authorities and training programs.

The deal comes as Washington is actively mediating a peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, part of a broader strategy to promote regional stability and ensure US access to critical minerals.

Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC are expected to visit the White House later this year to finalise the peace pact.

This is not Rwanda’s first time stepping in to resettle deported migrants. In 2019, the country received migrants deported from Libya, and in 2022, it entered a controversial resettlement deal with the United Kingdom to take in asylum seekers who had arrived in the UK illegally. That UK arrangement was later scrapped.