UK Home Office Loses Contact with 62% of Asylum Seekers Slated for Rwanda Deportation

The UK Home Office has admitted that it has lost contact with 62% of the 5,700 asylum seekers it had identified for deportation to Rwanda. According to a government document, only 2,145 of these asylum seekers continue to report to the Home Office and can be located for detention. The remaining 3,557 people are not necessarily considered to have absconded, but face looser reporting restrictions, making them difficult to locate.

Despite this setback, the UK government remains determined to proceed with its controversial Rwanda deportation scheme. The Home Office has vowed to locate and remove the missing asylum seekers by the end of 2024, with the Health Secretary stating that law enforcement agencies have "a range of measures" to find and remove those not reporting as required. The government expects the first deportation flights to Rwanda to take off within the next 10 to 12 weeks.

Why this matters: The UK's Rwanda deportation policy has faced significant legal challenges and opposition from refugee charities. The loss of contact with a majority of the asylum seekers slated for removal raises questions about the effectiveness and feasibility of the scheme. The policy's impact on diplomatic relations and migration patterns in the region is also a concern.

The Rwanda deportation scheme has encountered several obstacles since its inception. The Court of Appeal ruled the policy unlawful in June 2023, but the government has passed legislation to override this decision. The updated policy document acknowledges potential further delays due to MPs making last-minute representations to suspend individual removals.

Meanwhile, the UK's Rwanda legislation has had unintended consequences on its relationship with Ireland. The Irish government has proposed new legislation to make it easier to send migrants back to the UK, effectively reversing an Irish High Court ruling that deemed the UK no longer a safe third country for returning asylum seekers due to the Rwanda plan. The number of asylum seekers crossing from Northern Ireland into Ireland has surged, now accounting for over 80% of Ireland's overall total.

The Home Office maintains that it has hundreds of dedicated caseworkers ready to process any appeals related to the Rwanda deportations. A spokesperson stated, "We will get flights to Rwanda off the ground in the next 10-12 weeks." However, the Labour opposition has described the situation as a "farce," exposing the government's lack of control over the asylum system. As of April 2024, no flights to Rwanda have taken off, and the policy continues to face legal and logistical challenges.

Key Takeaways

• UK lost contact with 62% of 5,700 asylum seekers slated for Rwanda deportation
• UK govt vows to locate and remove missing asylum seekers by end of 2024
• Rwanda deportation policy faces legal challenges, opposition, and diplomatic tensions
• UK's Rwanda policy impacts Ireland, leading to surge in asylum seekers crossing border
• No Rwanda deportation flights have taken off as of April 2024 due to legal, logistical issues