By Lucy Adautin
A senior minister announced on Tuesday that the UK anticipates deporting nearly 6,000 migrants to Rwanda this year, following the government’s release of new details regarding the contentious scheme.
These figures emerge just days after the plan, designed to deter migrant arrivals via small boats from northern Europe was enacted into law following extensive parliamentary debates.
Late Monday, the interior ministry disclosed that Rwanda has “in principle” agreed to accept 5,700 migrants currently in the UK.
Among them, 2,143 individuals “can be located for detention” before their transfer to Rwanda, as stated by the ministry.
When questioned about the 5,700 migrants slated for deportation, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins stated on Tuesday that law enforcement agencies would track down the remaining individuals.
“The expectation is that we remove that group of people… by the end of the year,” she told Sky News television.
“If somebody doesn’t report as they should do… They will be found.”
Migrants who arrived in the UK between January 2022 and June last year are liable to have their asylum claims deemed inadmissible and be removed to Rwanda, the interior ministry said.
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Official statistics indicate that over a period of 18 months, more than 57,000 individuals arrived on small boats while attempting to cross the Channel.
This figure underscores the magnitude of the challenge in curtailing irregular arrivals and highlights the limitations of the government’s controversial plan to deport some of them to Rwanda.
Under this scheme, which is projected to cost UK taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds, Kigali will assess their asylum claims.
If their claims are approved, they will be permitted to remain in Rwanda and will not be allowed to return to the UK.
Rwanda, situated in Africa’s Great Lakes region and home to 13 million people, is touted as one of the most stable countries on the continent, boasting modern infrastructure.
However, rights groups accuse long-time President Paul Kagame of governing in an atmosphere of fear, suppressing dissent and curbing free speech.
Last week, UK lawmakers passed the Safety of Rwanda Bill, which mandates British judges to consider the nation as a safe third country.
This move follows a ruling by the UK Supreme Court last year, which deemed the practice of sending migrants to Rwanda on one-way tickets illegal.
The new legislation also grants decision-makers handling asylum applications the authority to disregard portions of international and domestic human rights law.
The flagship policy of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government has faced criticism from UK opposition parties, UN agencies, and various rights groups.
Sunak stated last week that deportation flights are expected to commence within 10-12 weeks.
