Home Office targetting male migrants with no family for Rwanda flights
- Those picked are predominantly male and have no serious health issues
Male migrants with no family in the UK are being targeted for the first deportation flights to Rwanda in a bid to avoid legal challenges, the Mail understands.
More than 100 people have been detained by Immigration Enforcement officers following nationwide raids.
Those picked are predominantly male, have no serious health issues and no family ties to the UK, sources told the Mail.
The Government hopes they pose the lowest risk of lodging successful appeals by using the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
But ministers are confident that – even if there are challenges – lawyers will not be able to stop the flights altogether.
Male migrants with no family in the UK are being targeted for the first deportation flights to Rwanda in a bid to avoid legal challenges. Pictured: A group of people thought to be migrants including young children are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel on Tuesday May 7, 2024
Those picked are predominantly male, have no serious health issues and no family ties to the UK, sources told the Mail. Pictured: Migrants move a smuggling boat into the water as they embark on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk, northern France on October 12, 2022
More than 100 people have been detained by Immigration Enforcement officers following nationwide raids. Pictured: The grounded Rwanda deportation flight EC-LZO Boeing 767 at Boscombe Down Air Base, on June 14, 2022
A senior government source told the Mail: ‘The Home Office has been absolutely ruthless in choosing the first set of people to go.
‘Male, no physical or mental illness, and no family – so they can’t argue they have a right to a family life in the UK…
‘Even if a handful of migrants are able to lodge an appeal, the big law firms won’t be able to stop the flights altogether this time.’
Migrants must provide ‘compelling evidence’ they would face ‘serious and irreversible harm’ by being deported.
Rwanda scheme Q&A
What is the Rwanda scheme?
Ministers believe the prospect of being sent to Rwanda will deter illegal migrants from crossing the Channel.
The Government is gambling that the first flights to East Africa will have a stark impact on Channel arrivals, and demonstrate to voters that the problem is finally in hand.
The Government said that any asylum seeker attempting to enter the UK ‘illegally’ from a safe country, could be sent to Rwanda and have their claims processed there.
Is it ready to launch?
The Rwanda policy is ready to launch and detentions have begun today. Operational teams within the Home Office have been working at pace to safely and swiftly detain individuals in scope for relocation to Rwanda. More activity is due to be carried out in the coming weeks.
Last month sources said 100 to 150 migrants had already been identified for the first tranche of removals.
Who will be sent to Rwanda?
Under two recent Acts of Parliament the Government has powers to disregard asylum applications from those who arrive in the UK by ‘irregular’ routes such as by small boat.
Measures have also been taken to severely restrict migrants’ access to legal appeals. However, some limited appeal rights are retained.
It said the country has a strong and successful track record in resettling people, hosting more than 135,000 refugees, and stands ready to accept thousands more who cannot stay in the UK.
Officials said the government’s Safety of Rwanda Act and internationally binding Treaty reaffirm and ensure the safety of Rwanda and this policy.
Will there be legal action?
Probably. Migrants who are told they are facing removal to Rwanda are expected to lodge individual appeals.
Pro-migrant charity Care4Calais said last week it planned to initiate challenges as quickly as possible.
The PM previously revealed that 25 courtrooms and 150 judges have been earmarked to hear such cases promptly, in a bid to avoid delaying flights.
How will migrants be flown out?
Rishi Sunak said an airfield was on standby to handle the removals. A Ministry of Defence base – Boscombe Down near Salisbury, Wilts – was used for the aborted removals flight in June 2022 and the Home Office has been carrying out rehearsals there in recent months.
It is understood to have been in negotiations with several private charter companies.
Previously, firms involved in removals flights have pulled out after being targeted by Left-wing groups. It is understood the RAF is on stand-by to step in.
What happens when they arrive in Rwanda?
They will claim asylum under Rwandan law and be provided with free housing, healthcare, education and other support.
A range of safeguards prevent any migrant who is flown to Rwanda from Britain from being sent to any other country, apart from back to the UK if necessary.
How much will it cost?
The Government will pay Rwanda £370 million under the deal, plus a further £120 million once the first 300 migrants have been sent to Kigali.
On top, there will be a cost of £20,000 per individual removed and £150,874 per head in ‘processing and operational costs’.
Home Office estimates suggest the cost per individual of the relocations would be roughly £169,000 ‘over the multiyear lifetime of the scheme’.
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