The controversial deportation flights from the UK to Rwanda, touted by the former Prime Minister as a solution to the country’s asylum seeker crisis, have been scrapped by the new government. The plan, which was met with widespread criticism and legal challenges, aimed to send migrants who crossed the English Channel to Rwanda for processing and potential resettlement.
Despite Rwanda’s preparations to receive the deported asylum seekers, the newly elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer has deemed the plan ineffective and a waste of resources. Speaking on Saturday, July 6, Starmer stated that the plan had not acted as a deterrent, as intended, but rather had the opposite effect.
“It has never acted as a deterrent. Almost the opposite because everybody has worked out, particularly the gangs that run this, that the chance of ever going to Rwanda was so slim, less than 1%, that it was never a deterrent. The chances were not going and not being processed and staying here. Therefore, being paid for accommodation for a very, very long time. It’s had the complete opposite effect. And I’m not prepared to continue with gimmicks that don’t act as a deterrent.”. He said.
He cited the low probability of deportation (less than 1%) and the lengthy accommodation payments made to migrants as evidence of the plan’s failure.
The Rwanda plan, signed in 2022, aimed to process the asylum applications of some migrants in Rwanda, with the UK government hailing it as a significant deterrent to prevent people from crossing the English Channel. However, the plan was marred by controversy, including its high cost. The National Audit Office revealed in March that the UK government would pay up to $190,000 per person sent to Rwanda over a five-year period.
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Gatete Ruhumuliza, a Rwandan consultant, expressed regret over the plan’s demise, highlighting Rwanda’s own experiences with exile and refugee crises. He noted that many Rwandans, including the president, have personal experiences with exile and therefore understand the importance of treating refugees with compassion.
The scrapping of the plan leaves uncertainty for the thousands of migrants who crossed the British Channel in 2023, with approximately 29,000 people making the journey last year. The Rwandan government has yet to react to the UK’s decision, leaving many questions unanswered about the future of asylum seeker policy in both countries.
The ditching of the plan marks a significant shift in the UK’s approach to asylum seeker policy, with Prime Minister Starmer indicating a move away from “gimmicks” and towards more effective solutions. As the debate around migration and asylum continues, the UK and Rwanda must navigate the complex issues surrounding refugee crises and find humane and sustainable solutions.
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