UK expands criticized migrant deportation deal with Rwanda

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
19 Mar 13:45
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The agreement will allow the UK to deport asylum seekers to the African nation in return for a $145 million to Kigali over five years.

British Home Secretary Suella Braverman with Paul Rwigamba, director of projects and property management and Flora Uwayezu, project sales of the Century Real Estate group during a tour in Kigali Rwanda, on Saturday, March 19, 2023. (Reuters)

British Home Secretary Suella Braverman expands a deal with Rwanda which allows the UK to detain asylum seekers reaching the European country and deport them to the African nation.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) earlier slammed this agreement between the two as a "clear breach" of international law, describing it as an "asylum ban".

Braverman, who is on an official visit to Rwanda, claimed that the scheme would “act as a powerful deterrent against dangerous and illegal journeys."

"The Home Secretary and Dr Biruta signed an update to the Memorandum of Understanding, expanding the partnership further to all categories of people who pass through safe countries and make illegal and dangerous journeys to the UK," the UK government said in a statement.

In April 2022, the UK said it reached an agreement with Kagil to send migrants and asylum seekers who cross the Channel thousands of miles away to Rwanda, as the British government tries to reduce the record number of people making the perilous journey. However, no migrants have been sent back so far due to legal controversies after the British government received strong criticism from NGOs and other service unions regarding the legality of the deal.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) intervened to stop the execution of the 'Illegal Migration Bill' adopted by the UK over legality challenges, as the British parliament debated the matter.

“Many countries around the world are grappling with unprecedented numbers of illegal migrants and I sincerely believe that this world-leading partnership … is both humanitarian and compassionate and also fair and balanced,” Braverman said in Kigali.

“Anyone who comes to the UK illegally — who cannot be returned to their home country — will be in scope to be relocated to Rwanda,” she added.

Rwanda announced that it has the capacity to process only 1,000 asylum seekers over the first five years, which raises concerns regarding the practicality of the bill.

In 2022, over 45,756 people arrived in Britain after crossing the Channel from France in small boats, up from 28,000 in 2021, 8,466 in 2020, 1,843 in 2019, and 299 in 2018.