faq
In future, migrants who arrive in the United Kingdom illegally will be able to be deported to Rwanda. Questions and answers about the government’s asylum plans in London.
Who should be deported in the future?
The British government basically wants to deport all people who come into the country without the necessary papers to Rwanda – regardless of where they come from. You should then apply for asylum in the African country. If successful, they should be able to stay in Rwanda. There are no plans to return to Great Britain.
Why do the British do this?
With the slogan “Stop the Boats,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the Conservative Party promised a tough course in migration policy. Last year, almost 30,000 people crossed the English Channel by boat. This year there were 4,600 by the end of March, more than ever before in a first quarter.
The government defends the Rwanda plans as an important way to protect borders and deter migrants from making the dangerous crossing. The conservative politicians are hoping that the tough course will generate more support in the general elections, which are scheduled to be held later this year.
What is Britain paying Rwanda for this?
According to the Court of Auditors in London, the government is paying up to half a billion pounds to Rwanda – the equivalent of around 584 million euros. In addition, there could be hundreds of thousands of pounds per asylum seeker.
Is there criticism of the government plans?
The high costs are a point of criticism from opponents of the agreement. Above all, there are doubts about the legality of the project. The Supreme Court in London declared the plans illegal. The judges have doubts as to whether the people in Rwanda will receive a fair asylum procedure. However, Prime Minister Sunak ignored the law and declared Rwanda a safe third country. This is intended to prevent appeals before British courts.
What is the human rights situation in Rwanda?
Human rights organizations accuse Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, who has ruled the country for 24 years, of persecuting opponents of the regime and suppressing freedom of expression. The UN refugee agency reports extrajudicial killings, torture and deaths in custody.
There is also criticism of a high rejection rate of asylum applications from conflict areas such as Syria. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, warns that Britain will lose its reputation in the world if only some of the requirements of international law are taken into account.
What does Rwanda expect from the agreement?
The authoritarian leadership in Kigali hopes to be able to polish Rwanda’s image in the West, also to distract attention from the human rights situation in the country. Payments from London are also a motive.
There is already an agreement with Great Britain. Rwanda declares its willingness to accept deported refugees. In return, the British will pay the equivalent of several hundred million euros.
When should the deportation flights begin?
Prime Minister Sunak had hoped that the first deportation flights to Rwanda could take off in the spring. Now he’s talking about ten to twelve weeks’ notice. According to Sunak, there is already a contract with a commercial airline and an agreement with an airport. According to British media reports, there are also considerations about bringing asylum seekers to Rwanda earlier on regular flights.
Will the ruling party’s plan to win votes work?
In principle, the vote in Parliament is a success for Prime Minister Sunak. However, his conservative party is clearly ahead of the opposition Labor Party in polls. Much will depend on whether the Rwanda agreement actually succeeds in permanently curbing the number of migrants coming across the English Channel.