British interior minister Suella Braverman paid a visit to Rwanda last Saturday to expand an agreement under which the east African country will acknowledge the migrants who arrive in Britain without permission if British courts approve that the proposals are legal.
Britain’s government seeks to transfer thousands of migrants over 4,000 miles away (6,400 km) to Rwanda according to a $146 million agreement with Rwanda in 2022.
While campaigners question the legitimacy of the policy in the courts, there have been no deportations. Many charities consider the proposal to be unaffordable and absurd and will not allow several genuine refugees to even have a few routes to seek shelter in Britain without arriving in the country.
Last year, according to British government data, over 45,000 people arrived in Britain who crossed the Channel in small boats from France, which included young men from Iran, Afghanistan, Albania, and Iraq.
On Saturday, Braverman met Rwanda’s foreign minister, Vincent Biruta, and informed reporters in Kigal that she had agreed to provide support for migrants who are sent to the country.
At a news conference with Biruta, Braverman said, “Many countries around the world are grappling with unprecedented numbers of illegal migrants and I sincerely believe that this world-leading partnership … is both humanitarian and compassionate and also fair and balanced.”
Biruta stated the proposals “offer better opportunities for migrants and Rwandans alike” and would enable the British government to tackle people-trafficking networks.
Braverman was likely to meet Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame on Sunday.
Last Saturday, Britain’s interior ministry disclosed in a statement that Rwanda had agreed to accept “all categories of people who pass through safe countries and make illegal and dangerous journeys to the UK.”
Britain’s interior ministry said, “Anyone who comes to the UK illegally – who cannot be returned to their home country – will be in scope to be relocated to Rwanda.”
The deal was declared in April 2022, though the first deportation flight was prohibited by the European Court of Human Rights.
In London, the High Court legalized it in December while the opposition sought to appeal in April, and it may be further taken to Britain’s Supreme Court a year later.
Braverman said, “I’m not going to pre-empt the decision of the judiciary, but if we are successful, we will envisage delivering the substance of our agreement as quickly as possible.” He had previously said that the opposition is “naive do-gooders”
Resolving the issue is among the top priorities in 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said. Britain outlays over 2 billion pounds each year to provide for migrants and has agreed on a $95 million deal to send them to countries like Rwanda.
