Immigration: General
SCOOP — The US sent Iraqi refugee Omar Ameen to Rwanda via new diplomatic relationship in which they've agreed to act as a "third country" for deportees unable to be safely returned to their country of origin, per cables reviewed by me.
This is first reported instance. Cable indicates more to come. (thehandbasket.co)
I first learned Rwanda was open to accepting people not wanted in the US via a copy of a diplomatic cable sent in March.
A new cable sent today confirmed that the first person had been "relocated" after the US paid the Rwandan government $100,000.
The idea of using Rwanda as a third country is not new.
In 2022, the UK government under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attempted a similar arrangement. It was mired in litigation, and ultimately killed by Keir Starmer his first day in office in 2024.
Omar Ameen was detained by the Trump administration in 2018, and later cleared by a federal judge. Immediately upon his 2021 release, ICE—under Biden—detained him. Lawyers and community leaders in Sacramento where he lived tried to get him out, but he remained imprisoned until he was sent to Rwanda.
This is first reported instance. Cable indicates more to come. (thehandbasket.co)
I first learned Rwanda was open to accepting people not wanted in the US via a copy of a diplomatic cable sent in March.
A new cable sent today confirmed that the first person had been "relocated" after the US paid the Rwandan government $100,000.
The idea of using Rwanda as a third country is not new.
In 2022, the UK government under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attempted a similar arrangement. It was mired in litigation, and ultimately killed by Keir Starmer his first day in office in 2024.
Omar Ameen was detained by the Trump administration in 2018, and later cleared by a federal judge. Immediately upon his 2021 release, ICE—under Biden—detained him. Lawyers and community leaders in Sacramento where he lived tried to get him out, but he remained imprisoned until he was sent to Rwanda.