Rubio: We are looking for third countries to deport migrants

illegal immigration

Rubio: Rwanda & Libya are countries that US negotiate to deport migrants

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States is seeking other countries, such as El Salvador, to which it can deport undocumented migrants from third countries. Two people familiar with the ongoing negotiations told AFP that Rwanda is one of the countries the United States is negotiating with to deport migrants.

During a meeting of President Donald Trump's administration at the White House, Rubio said, "Let me say this clearly: We are actively seeking to persuade other countries to accept third-country nationals. It's not just El Salvador." Since returning to the White House at the end of January, the US president has reiterated his desire to fulfill one of his key campaign promises: a massive deportation program for undocumented migrants.

In March, Trump deported more than 250 migrants to El Salvador, whom his administration accused of being gang members. These migrants were placed in a maximum-security prison in El Salvador in exchange for money received from the Salvadoran authorities by their American counterparts.

In 2022, the British government, then led by Conservative Boris Johnson, announced a controversial plan to deport migrants who had arrived illegally in the United Kingdom to Rwanda. However, this plan never materialized.

Upon assuming power in July 2024, Keir Starmer, leader of the British Labour Party, announced the abandonment of the agreement with Rwanda. According to American media, the United States has begun similar talks with Libya.