UK to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda

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Under a controversial deal announced Thursday, Britain will send migrants and asylum seekers who cross the Channel thousands of miles away to Rwanda, as the government tries to reduce the record number of people making the perilous journey.

In a speech near Dover in southeastern England, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "From today... anyone entering the UK illegally as well as those who have arrived illegally since January 1 may now be relocated to Rwanda."

"Rwanda will have the capacity to resettle tens of thousands of people in the years ahead," Johnson said.

He referred to the East African country, which has a shaky human rights record, as "one of the safest countries in the world, globally recognized for its record of welcoming and integrating migrants."

Johnson was elected partly on promises to reduce illegal immigration but instead has seen a record number of people attempt the perilous Channel crossing.

He also announced that the navy would take over responsibility for patrolling the Channel for migrant boats from the UK's border agency.

"The Royal Navy will take over operational command from Border Force in the Channel with the aim that no boat makes it to the UK undetected," Johnson said, announcing extra funds for boats, aircraft, and surveillance equipment to help detain people-smugglers at sea.

"This will send a clear message to those piloting the boats. If you risk other people's lives in the Channel, you risk spending your own life in prison," he said.

In 2021, over 28,000 people arrived in Britain after crossing the Channel from France in small boats.

The Rwanda plan quickly drew the ire of opposition politicians, who accused Johnson of attempting to divert attention away from the partygate scandal, while rights groups slammed the project as "inhumane."

Ghana and Rwanda had previously been mentioned as possible destinations for the UK to outsource migrant processing, but Ghana denied involvement in January.

The UK will fund the Rwanda agreement to the tune of up to $157 million, with migrants "integrated into communities across the country," according to the statement.

It is worth mentioning that Emmanuel Macron has recently slammed Boris Johnson's government for making Ukrainian refugees unwanted in the UK amid its claims of being the world leader in aiding war victims.

The French President was scathing about Johnson's approach to people fleeing from Ukraine as he spoke at the close of an EU summit in Versailles.