The British government on Tuesday (27) defended plans to send people to Rwanda, in East Africa, saying “damage to society will increase” if it does not act “decisively” to reduce the flow of migrants through illegal channels. , potential asylum seekers.
Secretary of State for Immigration Robert Jenrick appeared before the House of Commons to answer a pressing question from Labor who questioned the credibility and cost of the government’s strategy.
“The levels and costs associated with illegal immigration have increased exponentially, fueled by the influx of small vessels” across the English Channel, which separates England from France, the politician declared.
“Unless we act decisively to stop these ferries, the cost to taxpayers and damage to society will continue to grow,” he added.
According to an “impact assessment” of the Rwanda program published by the Ministry of Interior on Monday (26), Jenrick said the number of “illegal immigrants” when their asylum applications are being considered has multiplied since 2020. Continuing, they will reach 11 billion pounds per year in 2026 (around 12.8 billion euros).
Jenrick argued in the British Parliament that passing the Illegal Immigration Bill would reduce the number of people trying to immigrate to the UK illegally by 2%. According to Jenrick, the plan contemplates sending refugees to third countries to discourage some from trying to immigrate to the country illegally.
“The impact assessment published yesterday makes it clear that inaction is not an option,” he added.
However, Labor immigration spokeswoman Yvette Cooper described the Home Office’s report as “rubbish” and the Foreign Secretary’s intervention as “even less coherent”.
Yvette Cooper pointed out that according to this “estimate”, the cost of deportation to Rwanda would be £169,000 (about €195,000) per person. billion pounds (13.95 billion euros) a year, more than the 3.6 billion (about 4.2 billion euros) invested in the processing system in the UK.
After the European Court of Human Rights blocked the first flight with migrants from taking off in June 2022, the British Parliament is currently examining the bill, while the government expects a British judge’s opinion on the legality of its plan in the coming days. Kigali is the capital of Rwanda.
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