The United States and Rwanda have agreed that the African country will accept hundreds of migrants deported by the United States, a Rwandan government spokesman and an official told Reuters, BTA reported.
The agreement under which Rwanda will accept up to 250 migrants was signed by US and Rwandan officials in Kigali in June, the Rwandan official said, speaking on condition of anonymity, adding that Washington had already sent an initial list of 10 people to be vetted.
"Rwanda agreed with the United States to accept up to 250 migrants, in part because almost every Rwandan family has experienced the hardships of displacement, and our societal values are based on reintegration and rehabilitation," said Rwandan government spokesman Yolande Makolo.
"Under the agreement, Rwanda has the option to approve any person proposed for resettlement. Those approved will be provided with job training, health care and housing support to start their lives in Rwanda, enabling them to contribute to one of the world's fastest-growing economies in a decade."
The White House, State Department and Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Britain has said it will begin implementing the agreement to return migrants to France who arrive by small boats within days of the agreement being signed – a key part of Britain's plans to reduce illegal migration - will be ratified today, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron announced the pilot "one in, one out" migrant return scheme last month. Under the new deal, France agreed to accept the return of undocumented people who arrived in Britain in small boats in exchange for Britain agreeing to take in the same number of legitimate asylum seekers with British family ties.
A deal for the scheme was signed last week but was not announced before the previously announced ratification on Tuesday. Britain said the European Commission and EU member states had given the green light to the plan.
Starmer, whose popularity has fallen since winning an election last year, is facing pressure to stop the arrival of small boats from the populist "Reform UK" party led by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage.
The British Home Office said it expected the arrests to begin within days.
"This is a significant step towards undermining the business model of the organised crime groups behind these crossings," British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said.
Under the deal with France, government sources have previously said it would return around 50 people a week, or 2,600 a year, a small fraction of the 35,000 who arrived last year.
More so far of 25,000 people arrived by small boats in 2025, Reuters reports.