By: CLV Phoenix Writer
Asylum-seekers who enter the UK are currently facing the threat of being deported, by plane, to Rwanda for ‘outsourcing’. These people who make the treacherous journey across the English channel in search of a better life are currently under some of the most immense stress they will likely face in their lives. The idea of being thrown out of the country they sought refuge and safety in is a one that is currently looming over their head and, to them and their families, spells danger in what should be a time of happiness.
Home secretary Priti Patel announced the plans for the Rwanda flights in April of this year and the first flight was supposed to take off on June 14th - just two days ago. The flight was looking to go ahead with up to seven people being reported to be on the flight. However, minutes before the flight was due to take off, the ECHR (European Court of Human Rights) stepped in and intervened, causing the flights to be cancelled. The UK government is hoping the scheme will deter others from crossing the channel and making the dangerous, and often fatal, journey.
[Priti Patel, Home Secretary]
Speaking in the House of Commons, the Home Secretary said the ruling is “Disappointing and surprising” and that “We believe that we are fully compliant with our domestic and international obligations”. She has also announced that plans for a new flight have already begun.
Many are sceptical about the ethical conduct of the situation and reports have suggested that the people who were due to be on the flight were treated like criminals - two of the people due to be on the flight have told an Iranian human rights lawyer that one man was forced to board in a wheelchair after passing out.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has called the policy and ongoing situation a “shambles” and “shameful”. Labour and other opposition parties have been vocally against the policy with many seeing it as highly unethical and a waste of public spending.
This comes just a week after Boris Johnson’s vote of confidence, which he narrowly won with 211 MPs voting in confidence and 148 voting in no confidence. Calls for a policy success have been crying out from the public and Parliament for months and Boris was hoping the Rwanda deportation plan to be a success in the light of a mounting pile of failures. But with this huge blow to the plan it is looking likely that Boris is going to have to admit to yet another defeat and, once again, admit failure.
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