Trump Administration Explores Migrant Transfers to Libya and Rwanda

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Trump Administration Explores Migrant Transfers to Libya and Rwanda Amid Legal and Human Rights Concerns

 

The Trump administration is actively exploring plans to send certain migrants from the United States to Libya and Rwanda, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions. These proposals, still in preliminary stages, would involve deporting migrants with criminal records to these third countries as part of a broader strategy to deter immigration and reduce the domestic burden of housing and processing undocumented individuals.

 

This represents a significant escalation of the administration’s immigration policies. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January instructing top officials to establish international agreements that would allow the U.S. to redirect asylum seekers to third countries. Talks have since included not only deportations of individuals with criminal histories but also the potential creation of a "safe third country" agreement with Libya.

 

 

Such an arrangement would permit the U.S. to send asylum seekers caught at the border directly to Libya, bypassing the traditional asylum process.

 

The U.S. State Department has reportedly initiated discussions with officials from both Libya and Rwanda. This week, senior American officials met with Libyan representatives, including General Saddam Haftar, who was in Washington for consultations. While the idea remains under discussion, it is unclear which nationalities would fall under the potential policy or how it would be implemented. CNN has reached out to the State Department and Libyan officials for comment, but no official statements have been made public.

 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the administration’s active search for partner nations. “I say this unapologetically, we are actively searching for other countries to take people from third countries,” Rubio stated during a Cabinet meeting. “We are working with other countries to say, ‘We want to send you some of the most despicable human beings to your countries — will you do that as a favor to us?’ And the further away from America, the better, so they can’t come back across the border.”

 

Rwanda, which had earlier expressed willingness to engage in such discussions, is now back in negotiations with the U.S. about accepting migrants with criminal backgrounds who have already served their sentences. Unlike arrangements with other nations, sources said Rwanda would not imprison these individuals but instead integrate them into society by offering a stipend and employment assistance. The cost per deportee to Rwanda is expected to be higher than in countries like El Salvador, due to the inclusion of social support services.

 

One such transfer has already occurred. In March, the U.S. deported Omar Abdulsattar Ameen, a refugee from Iraq, to Rwanda in what sources described as a potential model for future deportations. The groundwork for these discussions dates back to early in Trump’s term, when the administration circulated diplomatic notes to countries worldwide to gauge interest in receiving deported migrants. Rwanda was among the few nations that signaled openness to such cooperation.

 

This is not uncharted territory for Rwanda. In 2022, it entered into an agreement with the United Kingdom to accept asylum seekers deported from the UK, although the plan was ultimately scrapped in 2024 by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled the effort a “gimmick.”

 

The Trump administration’s intentions face legal hurdles. Just last month, a federal judge issued a temporary block on deportations to third countries without prior notice and an opportunity for the deportees to contest the transfer. Additionally, the choice of Libya has drawn international scrutiny due to the country’s longstanding record of human rights abuses. A 2024 United Nations report condemned Libya for systemic violations, including allegations of torture, rape, and forced labor in detention centers holding migrants.

 

Despite the controversy, the administration continues to frame the policy as a tool for safeguarding American borders and alleviating pressure on the U.S. immigration system. Whether these deals come to fruition remains uncertain, but they are already drawing attention from human rights advocates and legal experts who warn of profound humanitarian and legal implications.

 

  Adpated by ASEAN Now from CNN  2025-05-02