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Sunak: Flights to return migrants to Rwanda start in 10-12 weeks

2024-04-22 15:25:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed on Monday to begin returning asylum seekers to Rwanda within 10 to 12 weeks. He told the House of Lords, the upper house of parliament, that he would implement the new legislation despite opposition.

Prime Minister Sunak said the government has reserved planes and trained staff to return the migrants to Rwanda. This is part of efforts he hopes will boost support for his Conservative party ahead of elections expected later this year.

"It is not a question of whether they can happen. These flights to Rwanda will be realized", Prime Minister Sunak said in a press conference.

Tens of thousands of migrants, many fleeing wars and poverty in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, have arrived in Britain in recent years. They arrive on the island mostly by crossing the English Channel in small boats on dangerous journeys organized by people-smuggling gangs.

Stopping the flow of migrants is one of the Conservative government's main objectives, but critics say the plan to deport people to Rwanda is inhumane and that the East African country is not a safe place.

Implementation of this decision has often been blocked by the House of Lords, or the upper house of parliament, and it could face further legal challenges if passed. The legislation will return to the lower house of parliament on Monday, where lawmakers are expected to remove the changes proposed by the House of Lords.

Prime Minister Sunak, whose party is behind Labor according to polls, said an airstrip was on standby and that seats had been reserved for flights. Five hundred staff have been trained and are now ready to accompany the migrants "all the way to Rwanda".

"We are ready. The planes are ready. These flights will be made no matter what happens," he said.

Under the policy drawn up two years ago, any asylum seeker who arrives in Britain illegally will be sent to Rwanda in order to disrupt crossings through the English Channel and disrupt smugglers' plans.

Mr Sunak's team hopes the policy, which was a pre-election promise, will boost support for the party, particularly among disaffected conservative voters who want to see a cut in immigration.

Polls say the British Prime Minister's Conservative Party will suffer a heavy defeat in this year's election from Labour, which has said it will scrap the migrant return program if it wins power.

Even if Prime Minister Sunak succeeds in preventing the House of Lords from blocking the legislation, he may face further legal challenges.

Charities and rights groups say they will try to stop individual deportations. The union representing the employees of the border forces has vowed to challenge the new decision in court as illegal, "within a few days" after the first asylum seekers are notified that they will return to Rwanda./ VOA