Immigration This very controversial measure, announced last April under the mandate of Boris Johnson, allows in all legality to send illegal immigrants to Rwanda, regardless of their nationalities
More than a hundred migrants arriving in Dover on this Hurricane lifeboat. Arrival and departure of migrants from Dover to Manston, United Kingdom – November 14, 2022 — Invicta Kent Media//SIPA
- British justice on Monday gave its green light for the deportation of asylum seekers who arrived illegally in the United Kingdom to Rwanda, a project launched last April.
- This decision comes several months after the appeal of associations and the European Court of Human Rights. Now, Rishi Sunak’s government will be able to start its anti-immigration policy as it wishes.
- 20 Minutes looks back on this very controversial measure denounced by NGOs but encouraged by the English right and extreme right.
On Monday, the British High Court upheld the proposed deportation to Rwanda of asylum seekers who arrived illegally in the UK. This very controversial measure, announced last April under the mandate of Boris Johnson, allows in all legality to send illegal migrants to Rwanda, regardless of their nationalities. “We welcome this decision and are prepared to offer asylum seekers and migrants the opportunity to build a new life in Rwanda,” Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo followed, speaking of a “positive” to solve the global migration crisis. 20 Minutes looks back on the decision of the British justice while the first planes to fly; direction of the Rwandan capital Kigali could take off soon.
What happened? this Monday in the UK?
British justice has given its green light to the deportation to Rwanda of asylum seekers who arrived illegally in the UK, a highly controversial project; that the government wants to deploy as soon as possible. The High Court in London held the “legal” and estimated that the provisions provided for by the government did not contravene; the Geneva Convention on Refugees.
Why did London put this measure in place?
Illegal Channel crossings are the bane of the Conservative British government and regularly cause tension with France, hence leave many migrants wishing to reach England. Since the start of the year, around 45,000 have arrived on English shores, compared to 28,526 in 2021. And four migrants, including a teenager, died attempting this crossing on December 14.
By sending migrants who arrived illegally in the United Kingdom to Rwanda, either to more than 6,000 km from London, the Johnson government therefore intends to deter illegal crossings of the Channel. “The criminal groups that are putting people’s lives in danger in the Channel need to understand that their economic model will collapse under this government,” Boris Johnson on LBC radio last June.
How will this deal with Rwanda work?
Following the British justice announcement, “anyone entering the UK illegally” after January 1, 2022 could be out of order. presently sent to Rwanda, without limit of number. Deportations to Rwanda are “only part of our plan” against illegal immigration, nevertheless explained the head of government on British television. Still, Rishi Sunak, who as the BBC points out has a policy similar to recent English Conservative Prime Ministers, has promised a “system where, if you arrive in the UK illegally, you will not be allowed to stay.
Under its agreement with Kigali, London will initially finance the device at 120 million pounds (140 million euros). For its part, the Rwandan government has clarified that it would offer migrants the possibility of “to settle permanently” Last June, British Home Secretary Priti Patel welcomed the agreement allowing illegal immigrants to “restart their lives in complete safety”.
It should be noted that at the beginning of the year, Boris Johnson and his government would have sought to to enter into agreements with third countries where sending asylum seekers who arrived illegally. Rwanda and Ghana had been mentioned, but Ghana strongly denied in January to be in discussion with the United Kingdom on the subject.
What are the reactions?
“We have always said that our policy to against Rwanda was legal, and I’s glad it was. confirmed today”said Monday Rishi Sunak in the wake of the announcement of British justice. The Labor opposition has, with regard to she expressed her disappointment and their anger. The union of civil servants PCS (present in particular in the border police) considered that that the government plan remained “morally reprehensible and totally inhumane”, believing that an appeal should “seriously” be considered.
For its part, Amnesty International judged “shameful” that “the government refuses to recognize that the more it invests in cruelty, punishment and deterrence, the more it endangers desperate people who have no options safe to arrive in the UK.” The Refugee Council found that this “cruel” assimilate “people who seek security’ to of human goods,” was damaging to the UK’s reputation as a country of human rights.
Side Rwanda, the authorities justify this partnership by invoking the well-being of illegal immigrants. The objective for them being to allow immigrants to “be protected, respected and that they can achieve their own ambitions and settle in a more comfortable way. permanently in Rwanda if they wish,” last June the Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs Vincent Biruta.
When will the expulsions begin?
After appeals from various associations and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) before the English courts, the evictions were never able to begin. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees even intervened in the case before the High Court, arguing that “the minimum components of a reliable and reliable asylum system just” are lacking in Rwanda and that such a policy would lead to of “serious risks of violations” of the UN Convention on the Status of Refugees. A first flight scheduled for June had been canceled after a decision of the ECHR which effectively called for a thorough examination of this policy.
our dossier on rwanda
With this new decision and the very to` right-wing Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who had expressed her “wish” to see migrants deported to Rwanda, Rishi Sunak, who wants to implement this project “as soon as possible” direction of the Rwandan capital Kigali could take off soon. Justice, however, demanded the Ministry of the Interior to review its copy concerning eight migrants who opposed their deportation to Rwanda. The “Home Office” did not sufficiently examine their personal situations to determine if there are elements concerning them that would oppose their deportation to Rwanda.
As of now, no date for a first flight has been announced. communicated by the British executive and the associations have until January 16 to appeal the decision. Still, the boss of the “Home Office” said that his teams were ready “ defend yourself against again against any legal action”.