UK Interior Minister To Visit Rwanda

The deal with Rwanda is a major part of Britain’s plans to detain and deport asylum seekers arriving in small boats across the English Channel.

Last year, the UK agreed to send tens of thousands of people more than 4,000 miles (6,400km) away to Rwanda as part of a 120 million pound ($146m) deal, though no flights have taken off as opponents challenge the policy in the courts.

The UK’s Interior Minister Suella Braverman will visit Rwanda this weekend to discuss an agreement in which the UK will relocate undocumented refugees and migrants as she doubles down on a plan that has been mired in legal challenges and controversy.

“I am visiting Rwanda this weekend to reinforce the government’s commitment to the partnership as part of our plan to stop the boats and discuss plans to operationalise our agreement shortly,” she said.

Braverman will meet Rwandan President Paul Kagame during the trip and  move to send migrants and refugees to Rwanda could be put into action shortly.

The partnership was announced in April last year, but the first deportation flight was blocked by an injunction from the European Court Human Rights.

Opposition To The Bill

Several asylum seekers, aid groups and a border official union filed lawsuits to stop the Conservative Party government from acting on a deportation agreement with Rwanda.

Opposition parties and charities have described the government’s plans on immigration as unethical and unworkable, saying the plan known as the Illegal Migration Bill  criminalises the efforts of thousands of genuine refugees.

The asylum seekers would then have to present their asylum claims in Rwanda. Those not granted asylum in Rwanda would, under the plan, be able to apply to stay on other grounds or to try to get resettled in another country.

Aljazeera/Lekan Orenuga