The government of Rwanda said on Tuesday that it had agreed to receive migrant detainees from the US, as part of US President Donald Trump's plan to send deportees to third countries.

Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolor confirmed that her country would take up to 250 deportees from the US with "the ability to approve each individual proposed for resettlement" under the agreement.

With the move, Rwanda joins two other African nations, South Sudan and Eswatini, in accepting Trump's plan.

The State Department did not comment on the matter but indicated that the US "works with Rwanda on a range of mutual priorities."

It all comes in the wake of a controversial multimillion-dollar deal Rwanda had struck with the UK to take in their deportees. But the British Supreme Court in 2023 struck down the deal, ruling that Rwanda was not a safe third country for migrants.

What did Rwanda say?

No details were provided on how soon the deportees would arrive. There was no comment on what, if anything, Rwanda would recieve in return for taking in the migrant deportees. 

In elaborating on why Rwanda took the deal, Makolo said the agreement meant the African country was doing its part to help with international migration issues because "our societal values are founded on reintegration and rehabilitation."

She said her country would maintain "the ability to approve each individual proposed for resettlement."

"Those approved (for resettlement in Rwanda) will be provided with workforce training, health care, and accommodation support to jumpstart 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 said. 

A controversial practice

The Trump administration has already been sending migrant deportees to other nations, a move that was challenged in court.

As it reached the US Supreme Court, the majority of judges ruled in favor of allowing the administration to continue the practice.

Human rights activists have warned that the policy could be a violation of international law, as migrants could end up in nations where they face the risk of torture, abduction and other abuses.

The White House has defended the practice, saying it is necessary in order to deal with migrants whose home nations refuse to accept them.

Recently, the US sent five male deportees from Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen and Laos to the southern African kingdom of Eswatini, where the government admitted they will be held in solitary confinement in a prison for an undetermined period of time.

Eswatini, considered Africa's last absolute monarchy, has declined to provide details about its arrangement with the US.

Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru