A SECOND attempt at shipping asylum seekers to Rwanda could be underway just months after the first flight was bolstered by human rights campaigners.
The Home Office has issued letters to asylum seekers cooped up in hotels to inform them that their asylum claims in the UK are “inadmissible” and that they will be sent to the south-east African country to have their claims processed formally.
People seeking asylum have just 14 days to raise objections over being sent to Rwanda.
Clare Moseley, the founder of the charity Care4Calais, told the Guardian: “We’ve recently learned that the Foreign Office warned Priti Patel that refugees should not be sent to Rwanda due to human rights concerns including that they could be forced to join the country’s army and sent to fight in neighbouring states.
“Against this backdrop it hardly seems credible that the government is pressing ahead with this brutal plan. Once more we will support terrified men and their distraught families as they face the devastating prospect of being forcibly deported halfway round the world.”
The second Rwanda flight comes after the first one was grounded on 14 June after courts removed all 138 refugees and immigrants from the plane.
An upcoming court hearing is set to determine whether the government policy to send asylum seekers abroad is lawful on 5 September.
The Home Office department continued to fight for the charter flight to go ahead despite it emerging that some government officials pushed back against the policy.
The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, said: “We will not be deterred from doing the right thing and delivering our plans to control our nation’s borders. Our legal team are reviewing every decision made on this flight and preparation for the next flight begins now.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Our world-leading partnership with Rwanda is a key part of our strategy to overhaul the broken asylum system and break the business model of evil people-smuggling gangs.
“We have always been clear we will continue to progress the partnership to prevent loss of life in the Channel, and we are continuing to inform those who come to the UK through dangerous, illegal and unnecessary routes that they are in scope to be relocated to Rwanda, where they will have the opportunity to claim asylum and be supported to build a new life. No court has actually ruled that this.”
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These people are entering the UK illegally and are leaving safe countries to do so.
If they were half as desperate as they claim to be they would settle in one of the 7 plus safe countries much closer to them rather than risk it all and leave their families in danger for a longer period than necessary while they sneak into the UK.
And if they were truly desperate they would accept Rwanda with a smile, not say it’s the UK or nothing.
It’s a big con and they are chasing benefits which is why they have no problem with their selfish act or breaking our laws.
Dave read this and get yourself an informed opinion instead of just making stuff up in your head https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62744529
We are an Island we shouldn’t be allowing this in the first place ….These people cannot be allowed to put themselves and their children at risk of death by smugglers in dingys not fit for this dangerous journey
This has to stop now Rwanda is willing to take these people at a cost to our taxpayer…
We are paying for them to set up a life for themselves that is something no other country is doing
If they don’t like it don’t try and come to the UK for free hand outs we have massive problems of our own to address ….