Unless canceled at the last minute, the British government is preparing to deport the first migrants who arrived illegally in the United Kingdom to Rwanda on Tuesday. A specially chartered flight with illegal immigrants on board is to take off from London in the evening and land the next morning in Kigali, according to opponents of the initiative.
By sending migrants who arrived illegally in the UK to this East African country, more than 6,000 km from London, the government aims to deter illegal crossings of the Channel, which continue to increase despite its promises. repeated attempts to control immigration since Brexit. “Criminal groups that put people’s lives in danger in the Channel must understand that their economic model will collapse under this government,” Boris Johnson insisted on LBC radio on Monday.
“Criminal groups that put people’s lives in danger in the Channel must understand that their economic model will collapse under this government,” Boris Johnson insisted on LBC radio on Monday.
This controversial project, also castigated by a “dismayed” Crown Prince Charles and the Anglican Church, and which recalls the policy also carried out by Australia, has been validated by British justice. The latter rejected at first instance and then on appeal last-minute appeals formulated in particular by associations to try to stop departures.
An almost empty takeoff
But the first flight risks taking off almost empty. Because if they failed to prohibit the measure, the multiple legal challenges had the effect of significantly reducing its scope.
According to the Care4Calais association, which denounced a “cruel and barbaric project”, at least 23 people out of 31 have seen their ticket to Rwanda canceled. Among those initially due to leave were Iranians, Iraqis, Albanians and a Syrian, she said. After this first flight, the associations do not intend to give up and intend to pursue their challenge in court, while a demonstration gathered hundreds of people in front of the Ministry of the Interior on Monday evening.
“We are disappointed but our broader appeal against this policy will be defended in July,” reacted the Détention Action association about the detailed examination of the legality of the measure scheduled for next month.
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Illegal crossings of the Channel are the bane of the Conservative government, and regularly cause tensions with France, from where many migrants wish to reach England leave. Since the start of the year, more than 10,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel illegally to reach British shores in small boats, an increase on previous years, which were already record highs.
Under its agreement with Kigali, London will initially finance the system to the tune of 120 million pounds (140 million euros). The Rwandan government has made it clear that it will offer migrants the possibility “to settle permanently”.