UK apprehends illegal migrants for deportation to Rwanda

The U.K. Home Office detains the first group of illegal migrants scheduled for deportation to Rwanda

The U.K. Home Office announced that the first group of illegal migrants scheduled for deportation to Rwanda have been apprehended following a series of operations across the country this week on Wednesday.

In a statement, the Home Office said its operational teams quickly detained those eligible for removal to Rwanda, with further activity planned in the coming weeks.

This effort is a critical component of the plan to operate flights to Rwanda over the next 9 to 11 weeks.

This comes after the Rwandan Bill to send asylum seekers to the East African country received royal assent and became law last week.

Home Secretary James Cleverly underlined the importance of the swift detention of people who do not have the right to be in the U.K., noting that enforcement teams are working diligently to facilitate the deportation process.

Respond to Ireland

In a separate speech to the House of Commons, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reiterated the government’s firm stance on illegal immigration, stating that the U.K. is not legally obliged to accept the return of illegal immigrants from Ireland.

This response came after the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland (DUP) raised concerns about the threat of deportations to Rwanda.

“It is no surprise that our robust approach to illegal migration is a deterrent,” said Sunak, responding to DUP lawmaker Carla Lockhart.

The Rwandan deportation plan has drawn international criticism and sparked widespread protests in the U.K.

The Rwandan policy, launched by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government, targets irregular migration by small boats across the English Channel from France, which the government has identified as a top priority.

Source: AA