The UK expects to deport nearly 6,000 migrants to Rwanda this year, a senior minister said Tuesday, after the government published new details on the controversial scheme.
The figures come days after the plan aimed at deterring migrant arrivals on small boats from northern Europe became law following months of parliamentary wrangling.
Rwanda has “in principle” agreed to accept 5,700 migrants already in the UK, the interior ministry revealed late Monday.
Of those, 2,143 “can be located for detention” before being flown there, according to the ministry.
Law enforcement agencies will find the remainder, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said Tuesday when asked about the 5,700 earmarked for deportation.
It followed a UK Supreme Court ruling last year that said sending migrants on a one-way ticket there was illegal.
The new law also gives decision-makers on asylum applications the power to disregard sections of international and domestic human rights law.
UK opposition parties, UN agencies and various rights groups have criticised the flagship policy of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government.
He said last week that deportation flights are expected to begin within 10-12 weeks.
AFP
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