Britain has begun preparations for the controversial deportations to Rwanda. The police arrested several people who had entered the country illegally. Nationwide operations are underway, according to the Interior Ministry.
In Great Britain, police have arrested the first migrants destined for deportation to Rwanda, according to the Home Office. “The first illegal migrants to be deported to Rwanda have now been arrested,” the Interior Ministry said. “A series of nationwide operations” are underway, the ministry continued. The first deportation flights are scheduled to begin in the next nine to eleven weeks.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said his House was working to “quickly arrest those people who have no right to be here so we can get the flights taking off.” His ministry released footage showing a man being put into an immigration minibus and another being led out of a house in handcuffs.
Deportation without application review
The British Parliament recently passed a law allowing asylum seekers to be deported to Rwanda if they arrived in the UK without permission. The origin of the migrants does not play any role. The deportations can take place without the asylum applications in Great Britain even being examined.
The Supreme Court in London declared the plans illegal. The judges have doubts that the people in Rwanda will receive a fair asylum procedure. According to the new model, asylum applications will now be examined by the Rwandan government in Kigali. If they are accepted, the refugees will have the right to remain in the East African country and will not be able to return to Great Britain.
Criticism of long-term president
Human rights organizations accuse Rwanda's President Paul Kagame of persecuting opponents of the regime and suppressing freedom of expression. Kagame has been in power in Rwanda for 24 years. The UN refugee agency reports extrajudicial killings, torture and deaths in custody.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has flouted the law and declared Rwanda a safe third country. This is intended to prevent appeals before British courts. According to the government's plans, a total of 5,700 migrants are to be deported to Rwanda by the end of the year. In return, Rwanda receives money from London.
According to official statistics, more than 57,000 people arrived in the UK in small boats across the English Channel between January 2022 and June 2023. In the first four months of this year, more than 7,200 people came into the country this way – a new record. The crossings, often organized by smugglers, are extremely dangerous. Just last week, five people died.
Sharp criticism of projects – lawsuits to be expected
Sunak is under pressure given the upcoming election and weak poll numbers for his Conservative Party and has announced plans to curb illegal migration. The so-called Rwanda plan is the core of his immigration policy. The conservatives hope that this will increase their popularity in the elections.
Numerous civil rights organizations reject the Rwanda plan as inhumane. The government must prepare for lawsuits. Senior United Nations officials have also called on London to reconsider the plan.
