Priti Patel believes other countries will follow the UK’s offer of asylum in Rwanda after it issued an official instruction to the Home Office to continue its policy of sending asylum seekers arriving by boat in Rwanda.
The Home Secretary said Denmark could be among those who will reproduce the UK government’s “plan” after it signed an agreement to transfer those asylum seekers believed to have arrived illegally in the UK to 6000 miles away in East Africa.
Her comments come after ITV News exclusively revealed that Ms. Patel must sign the new proposal, as the top civil servant in her department is not convinced that the policy will be effective enough to ensure value for money. .
The policy could only continue with a “ministerial instruction” – which is used when the permanent secretary (in this case Matthew Rycroft) has specific concerns, which means they want the minister to sign the expenditure proposal.
In this case, there was not enough evidence to prove the key goal of the policy – sending asylum seekers to Rwanda will deter others from trying to make dangerous boat crossings, ITV News Deputy Political Editor Anushka Astana said.
Initially, the Interior Ministry declined to comment on the exclusive edition of ITV News, but confirmed on Friday that a ministerial instruction had been used.
A source told ITV News: “The asylum system costs taxpayers more than £ 1.5 billion a year – the highest amount in more than two decades, and we spend £ 4.7 million on hotels a day among those who arrived illegally and through resettlement programs.
“Interior office officials are clear that deterring illegal entry would lead to significant savings. However, such a deterrent effect cannot be quantified with certainty.
“They argue that it would be wrong for” the lack of precise modeling to slow down policies aimed at reducing illegal migration, saving lives and disrupting the smuggling business model. ”
Ministerial instructions are rare, and this is only the second deployment of power within the Interior Ministry in the last 30 years.
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Understandably, in a letter to Mrs Patel asking for directions, Mr Rycroft did say that he was pleased with the policy and that deterring people would bring potential savings, but the evidence for deterrence was uncertain.
ITV News revealed on Thursday that there is tension among Interior Ministry officials for fear of resignation. One source described the atmosphere as “terrible” and said some people felt “desperate” for politics.
The revelation comes when the UN refugee agency warned that the Rwanda Pact violates international law.
As part of a plan to curb migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, those believed to have entered the UK illegally from 1 January could be sent to Rwanda, where they will be allowed to apply for asylum in the African country.
Defending the plan, Justice and Immigration Minister Tom Parsglow said there was a “moral imperative” to crush the “cruel” business model of human traffickers who make money from migrants who want to cross the English Channel.
Priti Patel and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta sign a partnership on migration and economic development. Credit: PA
He also said the scheme would save taxpayers money in the “long run”, although he acknowledged that short-term costs would be equivalent to what the UK currently pays to house and treat asylum seekers in the country – around £ 5 million a day.
Ms Patel agreed to a £ 120m economic deal while in Kigali on Thursday, and money is expected to follow for each removal, with reports that every migrant sent to Rwanda is expected to return to British taxpayers between 20,000 and 30,000 British pounds.
Speaking to reporters, she said the plan was likely to be emulated by others, including European countries.
“Now there is no doubt that the model we have presented, I am convinced, is world-class and for the first time in the world and will be used as a plan for the future, there is no doubt about that,” said Ms. Patel.
“I would not be surprised if other countries start coming to us directly against this background.
The interior minister said Copenhagen was also in talks with Rwanda, adding that the Council of Europe “also essentially said it was interested in working with us”.
The deal with Rwanda has faced international criticism, with UNHCR saying it “strongly condemns” the approach put forward by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Ms Patel.
Gillian Trigs, assistant secretary-general at the UN refugee agency, called it a “flagrant violation of international law and refugee law” and described it as “unacceptable”.
Speaking to the BBC, the Australian also doubts whether this will act as a long-term deterrent, given Israel’s attempt to do something similar in Rwanda with Eritrean and Sudanese newcomers who saw the refugees “leave the country and start over.” “.
The interior ministry has denied that his approach violates refugee agreements.
A spokesman said: “Under this agreement, Rwanda will process claims in accordance with the UN Refugee Convention, national and international human rights law and ensure their protection from inhuman and degrading treatment or return to the place from which they originally fled.
“There is nothing in the UN Refugee Convention that hinders relocation to a safe country.
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