Rwanda asylum plan

The Rwanda asylum plan,[1][2] officially the UK and Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership,[3] also known as the Rwanda asylum scheme, Rwanda plan and Rwanda deal, is an immigration policy first proposed by the British government, whereby individuals identified by the United Kingdom as being illegal immigrants or asylum seekers will be relocated to Rwanda for processing, asylum and resettlement.[4][5]

British home secretary Priti Patel (left) and Rwandan foreign minister Vincent Biruta (right) enacting the policy on 14 April 2022

The United Kingdom has stated that asylum in the United Kingdom will still be granted on an individual basis, although that depends on the "strength" of each claim. Rwanda has stated that they will not accept immigrants with criminal records, nor will it accept families or anyone under the age of majority.[6][7]

Description

The policy was announced in a speech by British prime minister Boris Johnson[4] and enacted for a duration of five years by British home secretary Priti Patel and Rwandan foreign minister Vincent Biruta on 13 April 2022.[8] Its stated aims are to decrease the amount of migrant crossings in the English channel, stop human smuggling, and boost Rwandan investment and development.[9][10] Johnson said it would "save countless lives" and would break the business model of "vile people smugglers".[9] The United Kingdom will pay Rwanda an "economic transformation and integration fund" amounting to £120 million, and will also fund each immigrant between £20,000 and £30,000 for their relocation and temporary accommodation in the scheme.[11]

Upon arrival in Rwanda, migrants will be temporarily accommodated in the capital Kigali as their claims for asylum are processed.[12] If successful, migrants will then receive permanent residency in the country and be offered permanent accommodation. It is expected that all claims will, at most, take three months to be processed.[13] Once in Rwanda, migrants will not be allowed to return to the United Kingdom to seek asylum.[7]

Reception

United Kingdom

A YouGov poll revealed that 42% of the public disagreed with the scheme, while 35% were in support. Results differed depending on what political party members of the public supported. The majority of Conservative supporters agreed with the scheme, whereas the majority of Brexiteers, Remainers, Liberal Democrat supporters and Labour supporters were opposed. Labour voters in the Red Wall and Wales were most likely to agree with the policy out of the party's supporters. People in Scotland and London, as well as young people nationwide, opposed the scheme the most. In contrast, the elderly gave it the most support.[14]

Demonstrations were held outside the Home Office the day the policy was announced and charities warned of Rwanda's human rights violations.[15]

The Guardian, Daily Mirror and i called the plan "inhumane" and "cruel" while the Daily Mail called its critics "left-wing lawyers and naysayers".[16]

Home Office under secretary, Matthew Rycroft expressed doubt over whether the plan will deter migrants or provide value for money.[17] Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said during an Easter Sunday sermon that the scheme raised "serious ethical questions" and did not stand "the judgment of God".[18]

Rwanda

Favourable views of the policy have been expressed by the Rwandan public, with many expecting to welcome the immigrants.[19]

Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, leader of the opposition in Rwanda, has criticised the policy as dealing with British issues where Rwanda's problems should be dealt with first. She also claimed that Rwanda was not prepared for the new immigrants: "if our people don't have enough to eat, if our kids or Rwanda's kids don't have the possibility of going to school because of the poverty, how will the Rwandan government give education to the kids of refugees?"[19]

International

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is "firmly opposed" to the policy,[20] believing it to be unlawful, prejudiced and impractical. Its assistant high commissioner Gillian Triggs said the United Kingdom was "attempting to shift its burden to a developing country" and that the policy "would not comply with the UK's international legal responsibilities". Triggs has called for more options for legal immigration to be introduced to the United Kingdom.[21]

See also

References
  1. "UK's Rwanda asylum plan against international law, says UN". The Independent. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  2. Powell, Rob (15 April 2022). "Priti Patel issued 'ministerial direction' to push through Rwanda asylum plan despite civil servants concern, Sky News understands". Sky News. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  3. "World first partnership to tackle global migration crisis". GOV.UK. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  4. "UK to send asylum seekers to Rwanda under controversial new deal". Al Jazeera. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  5. Easton, Mark (14 April 2022). "Rwanda asylum seekers: What does the UK's deal mean?". BBC News. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  6. Syal, Rajeev (14 April 2022). "Rwanda asylum plan: who does it target and is it going to happen?". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  7. Hymas, Charles; Turner, Camilla (14 April 2022). "One-way ticket to Rwanda for tens of thousands of Channel migrants". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  8. "Memorandum of Understanding between the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the government of the Republic of Rwanda for the provision of an asylum partnership arrangement". GOV.UK.
  9. Faulkner, Doug (14 April 2022). "Rwanda asylum seekers: UK government criticised over 'cruel' plan". BBC News. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  10. "Why are migrants being sent to Rwanda and how will it work?". Sky News. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  11. Selby, Jenn (16 April 2022). "Priti Patel could face Home Office mutiny over Rwanda asylum plan". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  12. "Rwanda asylum plan is 'unacceptable', UN refugee agency warns". Sky News. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  13. Chaplain, Chloe; Ferguson, Emily (14 April 2022). "Inside the Rwanda centre which will house asylum seekers and UK Channel migrants". i News. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  14. Woodcock, Andrew (14 April 2022). "Voters oppose Boris Johnson plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, new poll finds". The Independent. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  15. "Boris Johnson wants first 'illegal' migrants flown to Rwanda in six weeks". Express & Star. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  16. "What the papers say – April 15". Evening Standard. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  17. Home Office chief questions whether Rwanda plan will deter asylum seekers The Guardian
  18. "Archbishop of Canterbury condemns Britain's Rwanda asylum plan". Reuters. 17 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  19. Mararike, Shingi (15 April 2022). "'Nobody knew about it': How the UK's 'world first' migration deal has gone down in Rwanda itself". Sky News. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  20. "UNHCR 'firmly' opposing UK-Rwanda offshore migration processing deal". UN News. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  21. Gentleman, Amelia; Allegretti, Aubrey (15 April 2022). "UN refugee agency condemns Boris Johnson's Rwanda asylum plan". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
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