Rwanda in talks with Trump admin to accept deported migrants
The African nation of Rwanda is in talks with the Trump administration to accept U.S. deportees, the country's foreign minister confirmed late Sunday.
The big picture: The Trump administration has pursued fast-tracked deportations with little or no due process, a strategy that's drawn condemnation from advocates and strong pushback from the federal judiciary.
Some migrants have been sent to places other than their country of origin, including a mega prison in El Salvador built to house terrorists.
Driving the news: " We are in discussions with the United States," Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe told state broadcaster Rwanda TV, according to Reuters.
"It has not yet reached a stage where we can say exactly how things will proceed, but the talks are ongoing ... still in the early stages," he said.
The White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment Monday.
Flashback: Rwanda struck a deal with Britain in 2022 to accept some asylum seekers for their claims to be processed — but it sparked humanitarian concerns and Prime Minister Keir Starmer eventually shelved it.
Friction point: The United Nations refugee agency previously warned of harmful consequences from the asylum model proposed by the U.K.-Rwanda partnership, saying it was "not compatible with international refugee law."
The arrangement would shift responsibility for asylum decisions and safeguarding refugees, the agency said.
It further cautioned migrants could land in places where they were in danger. Rwanda's government pushed back on the claims.
Zoom out: Trump told NBC News' Kristen Welker in an interview that aired Sunday that he didn't know if all people in the U.S. are owed due process as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment, or if he had a duty to uphold the Constitution.
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