‘Have No Right To Be Here’: UK Begins Detaining Migrants Set To Be Deported To Rwanda
The decision to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda has sparked significant controversy and criticism, with concerns raised regarding the safety and welfare of individuals being deported to a country that may not provide adequate protection or support.
British authorities have initiated the detention of asylum seekers as part of a new scheme aimed at deporting them to Rwanda. The government’s decision to proceed with these deportations follows the passing of a controversial law designating Rwanda as a safe third country, bypassing an earlier UK Supreme Court ruling that had declared the scheme unlawful on human rights grounds. “Our dedicated enforcement teams are working at pace to swiftly detain those who have no right to be here so we can get flights off the ground,” said Home Secretary James Cleverly on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in his efforts to curb the influx of migrants and asylum seekers arriving via small boats from mainland Europe, announced plans for the prompt detention of individuals before deportation flights commence within a timeframe of ’10 to 12 weeks.’
The Home Office has described this development as ‘another major milestone’ in the Rwanda deportation plan, showcasing images and footage of immigration enforcement officers detaining multiple individuals at various locations using handcuffs.
Controversy and Criticism
The decision to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda has sparked significant controversy and criticism, with concerns raised regarding the safety and welfare of individuals being deported to a country that may not provide adequate protection or support. Human rights advocates and legal experts have condemned the move, citing potential violations of international human rights standards and the right to seek asylum.
“This government has lost it’s last ounce of humanity,” the charity, Freedom from Torture, posted on social media on Wednesday.
BREAKING: The first people set to be removed to Rwanda have been detained. pic.twitter.com/2WWNhQVC1l
— Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) May 1, 2024
A senior minister revealed on Tuesday that the government expects to deport 5,700 people this year, after it was confirmed that Rwanda had “in principle” agreed to accept that number.
However, the authorities have lost contact with thousands of potential deportees, with only 2,143 “located for detention”. More than 3,500 are currently unaccounted for.
Ministers have insisted enforcement teams will find them. Commercial charter planes have already been booked and an airport has been put on standby.
More than 7,500 people have arrived in the country on small boats from France so far this year, and the government says the policy will deter people from making the dangerous journey across the English Channel.
In light of the Supreme Court ruling issued last November, human rights organizations and unions opposed to the policy are poised to mount fresh legal challenges to halt the deportation flights.
Rwanda, home to 13 million people in Africa’s Great Lakes region, is lauded for its stability and modern infrastructure. However, rights groups accuse President Paul Kagame of governing in an atmosphere of repression, characterized by curbs on dissent and free speech, Al Jazeera reported.
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