Trump Administration Explores Migrant Transfers to Libya and Rwanda

[Social Media]

 

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

 

 

[newbee2022]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

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

 

 

After the midterms he will be imprisoned or impeached or chased away....maybe Rwanda?

[Tug]

If he had his way he’d do it via a short helicopter ride out to sea.

[renaissanc]

If women know that they will be sent to a jail in Afghanistan for certain crimes, they won't commit those crimes. 

If men know they'll be sent to a jail in Libya, Afghanistan, El Salvador, or Rwanda, for example, for certain crimes, they won't commit those crimes.

Make people so scared about the consequences that they won't commit serious crimes, and they will become rare.

[Watawattana]

The Rwanda deal must surely be easy to get done?  Just scratch out the letters 'U' & 'K', then add USA.  That way the UK will have paid for all the ground work to be done, and the USA can enjoy a bit of freeloading off of the UK for a change, rather than the other way round? 😂🤭

[Hanaguma]

By "migrants", do you mean illegal aliens?  

[thesetat]

Honestly, I do not think his idea will ever come to fruition. One thing about being incarcerated is having the ability to be near where your family is so they can visit. 

In the illegal immigrant incidences, he tries to send them to their country but when that country refused he will send them elsewhere. 

For American criminals though, I do not think he can send them to another country to serve their time in prison.

[Thingamabob]

Rwanda sounds like a good idea. Maybe the UK should also consider it.....

[jippytum]

One in the eye for Starmer.  The Ruanda set up was ready to go after many legal challenges from the labour party who scrapped it.

Trump has a ready made location for illegal immigrants thanks to Tory hard work. 

[rudi49jr]

2 hours ago, renaissanc said:

If women know that they will be sent to a jail in Afghanistan for certain crimes, they won't commit those crimes. 

If men know they'll be sent to a jail in Libya, Afghanistan, El Salvador, or Rwanda, for example, for certain crimes, they won't commit those crimes.

Make people so scared about the consequences that they won't commit serious crimes, and they will become rare.

Bit of a naive narrative, isn’t it? If even the death penalty is not enough of a deterrent to stop people from committing certain crimes, how is deportation going to be a deterrent?

[Watawattana]

5 hours ago, rudi49jr said:

Bit of a naive narrative, isn’t it? If even the death penalty is not enough of a deterrent to stop people from committing certain crimes, how is deportation going to be a deterrent?

Yeah, zero chance that 100% of crimes being stopped with this.  But if 1% could be?  Or just 1?  May not be worth the money if just 1.

[Cryingdick]

Have one of these countries cede a tiny bit of territory to the USA. Boom! You haven't been deported, you are technically in the USA. Have a landing strip and put the embassy in the same place. I bet not too many people show up with fraudulent visa or asylum claims if the prison is right there. Safe place to wait for asylum etc.

[MicroB]

Theatre for the masses. There are countries with the death penalty for murder. Murders still occur. Some have the death penalty for adultery. Adultery occurs. As does thieving despite amputaton.

 

It costs El Salvador $2000 per annum to house a convict. The are charging $20,000 per prisoner for the first 300 transferred from the US. That's an ongoing cost. There are 400,000 more to go. There are claims this is cheaper than costs in the US. But this is not true, because there are additional costs when you ship violent prisoners to another country.

 

First there is the issue of the transport. So far, they have used US Air Force transport to take prisoners to El Salvador. In the future, its likely the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS), aka "Con Air". They have a fleet of 4 aircraft (2x737-400 and 1 each of 737-700 and -800. These 4 aircraft transport 300,000 prisoners a year within the US. Typically, the flights are 200 prisoners, with 12 marshals (https://www.justice.gov/d9/pages/attachments/2020/02/10/usms_fy_2021_pb_narrative_-_jpats_-_200207_final.pdf)

 

2021 budget was $70m, probably $100m plus now

 

To expand this to include long haul flights for 400,000, the fleet will likely need to triple in size. And that will also see a big uplift in budget. There are actually prison airports in the US.

 

 

Going to need a few more of those, to use as reception centers. The analogy is Prison Transports by the UK. When a convict was sentenced to transportation, he wasn't sent down, put on a boat, and away he goes to Australia. What actually happened if he would wait on a prison hulk for upto 7 years, essentially so a convict ship could be fully filled before setting sail

 

All these costs add to the costs per prisoner sent into effective exile (if its expanded to include US citizens). Receiving countries will be compensated on an annual basis, likely consisting of a standing charge, then some calculation based on headcount. How would the US know they are not paying for prisners who have died or have been released, but still claimed for? So they need to set up a system for inspection. But there is a huge potential, over a 20-30 year period, the US will get scammed.