UK to send asylum seekers to Rwanda in 10-12 weeks, says PM Rishi Sunak
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Monday that the UK authorities will begin sending asylum seekers to Rwanda within 10 to 12 weeks.
This was disclosed after the upper house of parliament ratified necessary legislation following weeks of delays caused by attempts to change the plan.
Sunak stated that the government had booked commercial charter planes and trained personnel to transport migrants to Rwanda, a strategy he hopes will improve his Conservative Party’s dwindling credentials before the election later this year.
The House of Lords had long refused to back the controversial legislation without additional safeguards, but eventually relented after Sunak said the government would force parliament to sit as late into Monday night as necessary to get it passed.
The proposal is likely to get King Charles’ Royal Assent later this week, after which it will become law.
Sunak, speaking before the legislation was passed, stated that an airfield was on standby, airplane slots were reserved, and 500 personnel were ready to accompany migrants “all the way to Rwanda.”
Tens of thousands of migrants, many running away from wars and poverty in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, have arrived in Britain in recent years by crossing the English Channel in small boats on dangerous journeys orchestrated by people smugglers.
Stopping the influx is the aim of the government, but some argue that deporting people to Rwanda rather than dealing with asylum applicants at home is inhumane.
They express concern about the East African country’s poor human rights record, as well as the chance that asylum seekers will be returned to face dangerous uncertainties.
