Britain defends Rwanda asylum plan as 'compassionate'
March 19, 2023 -
The UK's conservative government has made tackling illegal immigration a priority
Britain's interior minister defended a controversial plan to deport asylum seekers arriving in the UK to Rwanda during a visit there Saturday, when she inspected the centres where they will be held.
"Many countries around the world are grappling with unprecedented numbers of illegal migrants," said Suella Braverman.
The agreement between Britain and Rwanda "will lead the way in finding a solution which is both humanitarian and compassionate and also fair and balanced", she added.
Braverman was speaking after a visit to the Bwiza estate where the centre for the resettled migrants is being built, and declared herself "incredibly impressed" with what she had seen.
She spoke to journalists at a news conference attended by Rwanda's Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta, who also defended the agreement signed between the two countries.
"This will not only help dismantle criminal human-smuggling networks, but also save lives," he said.
The UK's conservative government has made tackling illegal immigration a priority, and it was a key promise as the country left the European Union.
It is seeking to outlaw asylum claims by all illegal arrivals and transfer them to "safe" third countries, such as Rwanda, in a bid to stop thousands of migrants from crossing the Channel on small boats.
- 'Safe passage, not Rwanda' -
More than 45,000 migrants arrived on the shores of southeast England on small boats in 2022 -- a 60-percent annual increase on a perilous route that has been used by more people every year since 2018.
Britain's government, which is trailing in opinion polls, has been striving for years to tackle the crossings.
It had hoped the threat of a one-way ticket to Rwanda, where migrants would remain if accepted for asylum, would deter the cross-Channel journeys.
But that plan, announced by the then prime minister Boris Johnson last year, was blocked at the last minute by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which is separate to the EU.
The government scheme is still mired in appeals in the High Court in London. To date, no deportation flights to Rwanda have taken place.
Rights groups accuse Rwanda -- ruled with an iron fist by President Paul Kagame since the end of the 1994 genocide that killed around 800,000 people -- of cracking down on free speech and opposition.
In Britain on Saturday, thousands of people took to the streets of cities including London, Glasgow and Cardiff to demonstrate against the plan.
Protesters in the British capital carried signs reading "no human being is illegal" and "Safe passage, not Rwanda".
Some British media including the BBC and The Guardian newspaper were not invited to cover the interior minister's visit to Rwanda.
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Britain defends Rwanda asylum plan as 'compassionate'
British Home Secretary Suella Braverman (centre) defended a controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, during a visit to the country on March 18, 2023.
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Rights groups accuse Rwanda – ruled with an iron fist by President Paul Kagame since the end of the 1994 genocide that killed around 800,000 people – of cracking down on free speech and opposition.
In Britain on Saturday, thousands of people took to the streets of cities including London, Glasgow and Cardiff to demonstrate against the plan.
Anti-racism protesters in the British capital carried signs reading “no human being is illegal” and “Safe passage, not Rwanda”.
Some British media including the BBC and The Guardian newspaper were not invited to cover the interior minister’s visit to Rwanda
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Some British media including the BBC and The Guardian newspaper were not invited to cover the interior minister’s visit to Rwanda
British Home Secretary Suella Braverman (centre) defended a controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, during a visit to the country on March 18, 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS
KIGALI - Britain’s interior minister defended a controversial plan to deport asylum seekers who arrive in the UK illegally to Rwanda during a visit to the country on Saturday, saying it was “compassionate”.
The UK’s conservative government has made tackling illegal immigration a priority, and it was a key promise as the country left the European Union.
It is seeking to outlaw asylum claims by all illegal arrivals and transfer them to “safe” third countries, such as Rwanda, in a bid to stop thousands of migrants from crossing the Channel on small boats.
“I sincerely believe that this world-leading partnership between two allies and two friends, the United Kingdom and Rwanda, will lead the way in finding a solution which is both humanitarian and compassionate,” Home Secretary Suella Braverman said in Kigali.
She spoke alongside Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta, who said the move “will not only help dismantle criminal human-smuggling networks, but also save lives”.
More than 45,000 migrants arrived on the shores of south-east England on small boats last year – a 60 per cent annual increase on a perilous route that has been used by more people every year since 2018.
‘Safe passage, not Rwanda’
The government, which is trailing in opinion polls, has been striving for years to tackle the crossings.
It had hoped the threat of a one-way ticket to Rwanda, where migrants would remain if accepted for asylum, would deter the cross-Channel journeys.
But that plan, announced by former prime minister Boris Johnson last year, was blocked at the last minute by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which is separate to the EU.
It was then upheld by the High Court in London, but has been mired in appeals. No flights to Rwanda have yet taken place.
KIGALI - Britain’s interior minister defended a controversial plan to deport asylum seekers who arrive in the UK illegally to Rwanda during a visit to the country on Saturday, saying it was “compassionate”.
The UK’s conservative government has made tackling illegal immigration a priority, and it was a key promise as the country left the European Union.
It is seeking to outlaw asylum claims by all illegal arrivals and transfer them to “safe” third countries, such as Rwanda, in a bid to stop thousands of migrants from crossing the Channel on small boats.
“I sincerely believe that this world-leading partnership between two allies and two friends, the United Kingdom and Rwanda, will lead the way in finding a solution which is both humanitarian and compassionate,” Home Secretary Suella Braverman said in Kigali.
She spoke alongside Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta, who said the move “will not only help dismantle criminal human-smuggling networks, but also save lives”.
More than 45,000 migrants arrived on the shores of south-east England on small boats last year – a 60 per cent annual increase on a perilous route that has been used by more people every year since 2018.
‘Safe passage, not Rwanda’
The government, which is trailing in opinion polls, has been striving for years to tackle the crossings.
It had hoped the threat of a one-way ticket to Rwanda, where migrants would remain if accepted for asylum, would deter the cross-Channel journeys.
But that plan, announced by former prime minister Boris Johnson last year, was blocked at the last minute by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which is separate to the EU.
It was then upheld by the High Court in London, but has been mired in appeals. No flights to Rwanda have yet taken place.
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Rights groups accuse Rwanda – ruled with an iron fist by President Paul Kagame since the end of the 1994 genocide that killed around 800,000 people – of cracking down on free speech and opposition.
In Britain on Saturday, thousands of people took to the streets of cities including London, Glasgow and Cardiff to demonstrate against the plan.
Anti-racism protesters in the British capital carried signs reading “no human being is illegal” and “Safe passage, not Rwanda”.
Some British media including the BBC and The Guardian newspaper were not invited to cover the interior minister’s visit to Rwanda
AFP
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