UK To Send More Asylum Seekers From Afghanistan, Syria & Iraq To Rwanda
On Wednesday, the British Home Office announced that more groups of rejected asylum seekers have been deemed eligible for deportation from the UK to Rwanda.
On Wednesday, the British Home Office announced that more groups of rejected asylum seekers have been deemed eligible for deportation from the UK to Rwanda.
Under the new decision, asylum seekers from countries like Afghanistan, whose asylum requests have previously been rejected, will be sent to Rwanda.
Previously, the government of Rishi Sunak had stated that asylum seekers who illegally entered the UK after 2022 and had their asylum cases rejected would be sent to Rwanda. However, with the new decision, thousands more, currently residing in limbo, will be deported.
Asylum seekers from war-torn and dangerous countries are reluctant to return to their home countries and expect to remain in Britain even if their requests are denied.
James Cleverly, British Home Secretary said, “Those who have no right to remain in the UK should not be allowed to stay. Failed asylum seekers who do not leave the UK voluntarily will be in line for detention and enforced removal to a safe third country under the new agreement."
The British government claims that Rwanda is a safe country and Afghan asylum seekers and those from other countries who are unwilling to return home will remain in Rwanda.
According to Sky News, rejected asylum seekers will receive support from the British government in Rwanda for up to five years.
Cleverly admitted that many of the asylum seekers cannot be returned to their countries, as their countries are dangerous conflict zones, including those from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.
Following this decision, human rights activists and refugee-supporting organisations strongly criticised the government.
According to The Telegraph, refugee rights activists said that the government's decision is not a solution to the migration crisis and the UK must reform its asylum system, curb smugglers, and introduce safe routes for refugees.
The Rishi Sunak government hopes that sending rejected and illegal asylum seekers to Rwanda will reduce the incentive for others to migrate to the UK through dangerous routes.
However, last week, 760 people also entered the country via small boats through the English Channel.
