The first group of illegal migrants was told they would be sent to Rwanda within two weeks, according to the government’s controversial new immigration plans.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said 50 “illegal entrants” had been notified and would be relocated as part of an agreement newly signed by Interior Minister Priti Patel in April.
Approved applicants will be granted asylum or refugee status in Rwanda. Those with unsuccessful offers will be offered the opportunity to apply for visas on other immigration routes if they wish to stay, but may still face deportation.
The prime minister also said he was ready to fight leftists seeking to challenge the government’s plan.
He told the Daily Mail: “There will be a lot of legal opposition from the types of companies that have been taking taxpayers’ money for a long time to raise such cases and thwart the will of the people, the will of parliament, we are ready for that.
“We’re going to dig into the battle, and you know, we’re going to make it work. We have a huge flowchart of the things we need to do to deal with it, the left-wing lawyers.”
Rwanda’s controversial policy faces a number of legal challenges from charities that call into question its legitimacy.
Several “preliminary” letters – paving the way for a legal challenge – have been sent to the Interior Ministry.
Activists described the plan as “cruel and nasty” and questioned the government’s assessment of Rwanda’s security.
Although the country is considered “safe”, the assessment found that LGBTQI + migrants may be “at risk of discrimination”.
Image: Rwanda is 6000 miles from the United Kingdom
Read more: Why migrants are being sent to Rwanda and how will it work Asylum seekers “want to take refuge” to avoid the Rwanda plan A look at the center that could house Channel migrants
Ms Patel said it would “take time” to meet the growing legal challenges.
Asked if he could respond with a review of the European Convention on Human Rights, Mr Johnson said: “We will look at everything. Nothing is on the table.”
The government said those sent to Rwanda would receive support, including up to five years of training to support integration, housing and health care.
Mr Johnson said tens of thousands of asylum seekers could be sent under the new scheme without limitation.
Image: Facilities at the Hope House in Kigali, where asylum seekers can initially be taken
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At least 7,739 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel this year, according to an analysis of government data from the PA news agency.
This is more than three times the amount that arrived in the same period in 2021 (2439).
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