Exiling Refugees: The English Solution
Britain’s Deportation of Migrants to Rwanda is a Legal Principle
Exiling Refugees: The English Solution. The UK Parliament has given the green light to the plan to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda. The first flight is expected in July, but the UN warns that this is a dangerous precedent. After months of political struggle, the government’s proposal to deport refugees to Rwanda was accepted and became law, an initiative championed by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has tied his electoral survival to this, with expected voting in the fall. The parliament reviewed and decisively approved it.
Now, conservatives expect the first flight to Kigali by July, but refugee rights associations announce an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. Additionally, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has asked the British Prime Minister to reconsider this plan.
However, based on the Prime Minister’s statements, it can be concluded that Sunak has no intention of doing so. He said this is a turning point that changes the global migration equation and emphasized that no court can stop the transfers. The government has announced that charter planes have already been rented for transfers in early summer. Approximately 350 places for men over 40 who have entered Britain illegally since January 1, 2022, have been reserved, and they will be informed five days prior to transfer.
Meanwhile, a few hours after the Rwanda plan was approved in Westminster, three men, a woman, and a seven-year-old girl drowned after attempting to cross from Wimereux in southern Calais in the English Channel.
What does the Rwanda plan include?
This plan was launched in 2022 by the then-government of Boris Johnson but was never operational due to unconstitutional aspects confirmed by the High Court, which forced the government to provide a Rwanda safety bill. The plan involves transferring migrants who have entered the UK illegally via the English Channel. Upon arrival in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, those seeking asylum are given the opportunity to apply for asylum.
If successful and the asylum request is accepted, they can be granted refugee status and residency in the country. Otherwise, they can settle in Rwanda or apply for asylum in another safe third country, but under no circumstances can they request to return to Britain.
Currently, according to the BBC, about 52,000 people are under government surveillance, including Asian and African migrants, as well as Afghan citizens who have reached the other side of the Channel to escape the Taliban. This idea satisfies everyone: London feels less guilty about leaving Afghanistan to the Taliban after twenty years of war, and the Paul Kagame government benefits from it, hoping that no restrictions or sanctions will be imposed on this country in exchange for Rwanda’s hospitality.
The Cost of Transferring Each Refugee
London has previously paid the equivalent of 290 million euros and will pay another 100 million dollars to the Kigali government, which is not well-known for respecting human rights, over the next two years. However, according to a survey conducted by the Whitehall cost control body, the overall cost of this plan could reach half a billion pounds. The National Audit Office report shows that there are millions in additional costs, including 11,000 pounds per plane ticket, while Rwanda will receive 20,000 pounds for each refugee and 120 million pounds once the number of refugees reaches 300.
The British government responds that the costs of managing this phenomenon domestically are much higher. In Britain, there is no structure comparable to reception centers, and as a result, the costs of managing migrants are significantly higher. Due to the lack of a dedicated system for accommodating migrants, they are temporarily hosted in hotels. According to the British Home Office, the average cost per night for each refugee is 140 pounds, which must also include the cost of essential services. This means the total cost for each refugee over five years will be around 150,000 pounds.
A Threat to the Rule of Law
In fact, in Sunak and the British government’s intentions, the threat of deportation should act as a deterrent to prevent illegal entry via the Channel. Although, according to several observers, it is highly unlikely that this prospect alone will be enough to dissuade those who knowingly risk their lives in a dangerous passage to reach the shores of Britain.
The British Prime Minister said, I know there are those who hear all these decisions and accuse me of lacking compassion, but the truth is the opposite. The truth is that we need innovative solutions to tackle the migration crisis, dismantle the business model of smuggling gangs, and save lives. Sunak further added that he is trying to gain credit as a champion of legislative creativity against the phenomenon of migration in the eyes of other leaders who look at this new experience with interest.
However, his plan has faced severe criticism from human rights groups as a violation of international laws. The charity Freedom from Torture, along with Amnesty International and Liberty, called the approval of this law a national disgrace and said it is a significant threat to the rule of law, describing the parliament as a scene of crime. Moreover, for human rights activists, this law is a complete violation of international laws and will expose survivors to torture and other abuses.
Regardless of what foreign courts might say, flights will soon begin, Sunak, the British Prime Minister, reiterated with determination before and after the approval of the Rwanda plan. His government will continue even against the statements of foreign courts, referring to the European Court of Human Rights, which, along with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, had previously objected to the approval and legalization of this project.
After World War II, England was one of the main promoters of international conventions and multilateral institutions that have shaped the global balance so far, such as the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights.
The contemptuous attitude of Sunak’s government unfortunately confirms the warning in the latest Amnesty International report. We are witnessing the collapse of the rules-based international order because many countries responsible for the post-war architecture are abandoning the fundamental values of humanity and universality enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.