Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Iranian Foreign Ministry: Iran has always demonstrated goodwill, but the International Atomic Energy Agency is under pressure from the E3 and other countries.
Iranian Foreign Ministry: We will soon present our proposal to the other party through Oman, and the United States should seize this opportunity.
Iranian Foreign Ministry: Uranium enrichment is an inseparable part of our nuclear industry, and no country has the right to impose dictates on Tehran in this regard.
Iranian Foreign Ministry: We have prepared measures to respond to any decision against us at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting.
Iranian Foreign Ministry: What happened to the Madleen freedom flotilla is a form of piracy aimed at preventing aid from reaching the people of Gaza.
Hamas: We hold occupation fully responsible for activists' safety, and call on UN and international organizations to condemn this crime.
Hamas: We salute the free people of multiple nationalities who stood headstrong against threats, confirming that Gaza does not stand alone.
Hamas: Interception of Madleen mid-sea is organized state terrorism, a flagrant violation of international law, and an assault on civilian volunteers.
Reuters: Injuries reported in explosion at Kadena Air Base in Japan
Israeli media: The Israeli army took control of the Madleen ship and arrested the activists.

UK to agree law banning boat migrants from seeking asylum: Reports

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 4 Mar 2023 18:38
4 Min Read

The UK government to announce plans to ban migrants who come to the country illegally by boat from claiming asylum, paving the way for their relocation abroad.

  • x
  • People thought to be migrants make their way up the beach after arriving on a small boat at Dungeness in Kent, England, Monday, July 19, 2021. They were later taken away by Border Force staff. (AP)
    People thought to be migrants make their way up the beach after arriving on a small boat at Dungeness in Kent, England, Monday, July 19, 2021. They were later taken away by Border Force staff. (AP)

The UK government will reveal next week its plans to ban illegal migrants by boat from claiming asylum, facilitating their relocation abroad, media reported on Saturday.

Stopping the migrant boats has been among UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's leading priorities, since a record 45,756 people crossed the English Channel in 2022 and came ashore in the country, according to British newspaper inews, up 60 percent from the previous year.

While the surge in migrant arrivals is expected soon in Spring, the UK government will agree on legislation to deport illegal migrants to a "safe" third country such as Rwanda "as soon as reasonably practicable" and ban them permanently from coming back, the report said.

The new step would face major obstacles as it risks infringing on the European Convention on Human Rights and will raise concerns about where tens of thousands of migrants will be accommodated as several considered disused military sites are unfit to live in.

A survey revealed in January that nearly half of asylum seekers facing deportation to Rwanda are married, with one-fifth having children.

The survey found that the majority of asylum seekers facing deportation to Rwanda come from countries where more than 80% of people have had their refugee status recognized by the UK. 

Read: UK judges rule Rwanda deportation plan is lawful

Related News

Putin will have to 'come to the table': UK's Starmer

West's support for 'Israel' threatens regional, intl. security: Iran

The new study refutes claims made by former home secretary Priti Patel, who introduced the program to stop people from attempting to cross the English Channel in small boats, claiming that they were "not genuine asylum seekers" and "elbowing out the women and children, who are at risk and fleeing persecution."

In a pool of 213 people, 72% of those who were threatened with being deported to Rwanda by the Home Office came from Western-torn Arab countries. At least 82% of applicants from these nations are accepted in the UK.

Between August 2022 and January 17, 2023, the Home Office sent notices of intent to every participant in the survey. Anyone who gets such a notification could end up being transported to Rwanda.

When she was home secretary, Patel said: “In the last 12 months alone, 70% of the individuals who have come to our country illegally via small boats are single men, who are effectively economic migrants. They are not genuine asylum seekers … These are the ones who are elbowing out the women and children, who are at risk and fleeing persecution.”

Is Rwanda the solution? 

A recent YouGov poll indicated that only 10% of those questioned agreed that sending individuals to Rwanda was the best method to address the issue of small boat arrivals. Despite the high court agreeing that this ruling can be appealed, it did rule the plan legal in December of last year.

Read more: Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss promise expansion of 'cruel' Rwanda asylum plan

A spokesperson for Together With Refugees and chief executive of Safe Passage, Beth Gardiner-Smith, said: “This scheme is not just morally wrong; it’s expensive and unworkable. If our government were serious about tackling smuggling and saving lives at sea, they would scrap this plan and urgently expand safe routes for refugees.”

Moreover, Clare Moseley, founder of Care4Calais, said “This brutal policy will not end small boat crossings, it won’t stop people smugglers and it won’t keep refugees safe. There is a kinder and more effective option: give safe passage to refugees in Calais.”

A Home Office spokesperson said that everyone in scope for relocation to Rwanda will be "individually assessed," without relocating any of them to a proper place.

  • UK Prime Minister
  • Rishi Sunak
  • United Kingdom
  • Rwanda
  • asylum seekers
  • Illegal migrants

Most Read

The logo of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (wikidata)

Iran acquired thousands of sensitive Israeli documents: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 7 Jun 2025
A Palestinian woman mourns as she embraces the body of her daughter Mayar Abu Odeh, 8, who was killed in an Israeli army strike on Gaza. at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP)

French port workers block arms shipment to 'Israel' amid Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 4 Jun 2025
New Syrian group claims Golan strike, vows resistance to 'Israel'

New Syrian group claims Golan strike, vows resistance to 'Israel'

  • Politics
  • 4 Jun 2025
Iranian demonstrators walk on a caricature of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the annual Quds Day rally in support of Palestinians, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, March 28, 2025 (AP)

Iran hits 'Israel' hard without arms; intel breach lays Tel Aviv bare

  • Politics
  • 7 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Climate activist Greta Thunberg, center, waits to board the Madleen boat, before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Gaza aid vessel vows to continue until final moment

A view of the Knesset through the entrance window. (Agencies)
Politics

Haredi parties push for Knesset dissolution, call PM 'a burden'

Palestinians carry the body of Ahmed Abu Hilal, who was killed while on his way to an aid hub in Gaza, during his funeral in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Sunday, June 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US 'aid centers' in Gaza are deadly traps: Palestinian Resistance

An aerial view shows sections of the columns in the ancient city of Palmyra, Syria, Saturday, January 25, 2025 (AP)
Arts and Culture

Syria’s ancient sites looted as artifacts flood online markets

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS