London: The UK government confirmed on Wednesday it had detained an unspecified number of migrants in recent days for deportation to Rwanda in July under its controversial new policy.
This confirmation comes on the heels of last week’s parliamentary approval of a law permitting the deportation of some asylum seekers to Rwanda, deemed a safe third country. This legislation effectively bypassed a previous Supreme Court ruling that such deportations would breach human rights by exposing migrants to the risk of ill-treatment.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, steadfast in his commitment to curbing migrant arrivals via small boats from mainland Europe, has vowed swift action, with deportation flights slated to start within “10 to 12 weeks” of detention.
Reports surfaced earlier this week of immigration enforcement officers arresting migrants for the Rwanda flights. The Interior Ministry has since confirmed the initiation of “nationwide operations,” culminating in the detention of the first cohort of migrants destined for Rwanda.
Describing this as “another major milestone,” the ministry released visuals showcasing immigration enforcement officers leading detainees away in handcuffs to secure vehicles.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Sunak expressed satisfaction with the progress, highlighting the importance of these detentions in operationalizing the deportation plan and deterring perilous boat crossings.
The government anticipates deporting approximately 5,700 migrants to Rwanda this year, with over 2,100 already earmarked for detention. Despite the outstanding figure, ministers remain confident in the ability of enforcement teams to locate and apprehend them.
To accommodate the impending flights, detention capacity has been expanded to over 2,200 spaces, and commercial charter planes have been secured, with an airport standing by for operations.
In a separate development, it was confirmed that the first failed asylum seeker has voluntarily travelled to Rwanda under a distinct scheme.
While Rwanda touts stability and modern infrastructure, critics, including UN agencies and French President Emmanuel Macron, have raised concerns about human rights abuses under President Paul Kagame’s regime.
While the Conservative government maintains that the Rwanda deportation policy will serve as a deterrent, the Labour opposition continues to dismiss it as a futile measure.
Official statistics reveal a surge in arrivals by more than a quarter in the first third of the year compared to 2023, underscoring the ongoing challenges in managing migration across the Channel.
