UK's Rwanda Asylum Plan Deters Migrants, Drives Influx to Ireland - Sunak

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claims that the government's controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is already proving effective as a deterrent, with an influx of migrants now arriving in Ireland instead.

Sunak says comments from Irish ministers indicate the Rwanda policy is working, as people are worried about coming to the UK and being sent to the east African nation.

The UK government passed legislation this week to enable the Rwanda plan, which aims to send asylum seekers arriving in the UK on a one-way flight to Rwanda. Sunak argues that illegal migration is a global challenge and that the UK's approach is being followed by other countries, including top parties in the EU.

However, the Irish government disputes Sunak's claims. Irish Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Micheál Martin said the UK's Rwanda policy is driving migrants in fear of being deported across the border from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland. Figures show that in the year leading up to April 2023, Ireland saw a 16-year high in arrivals, with more than 80% of recent asylum seekers having crossed the border from the UK.

Why this matters: The UK's Rwanda asylum plan has far-reaching implications beyond its borders, as evidenced by the reported influx of migrants into Ireland. This development highlights the complex challenges surrounding immigration policies and their potential unintended consequences on neighboring countries.

In response, the Irish government is planning to amend laws to allow for the return of inadmissible asylum seekers to the UK. Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Simon Harris has asked the Minister for Justice to bring proposals to the Cabinet next week to amend existing law regarding the designation of safe third countries and allow the return of these applicants to the UK. The Irish government sees this measure as necessary to strengthen its migration system and ensure its integrity.

While Sunak claims the Rwanda plan is already deterring migrants, the UK government acknowledges that it could still take 10 to 12 weeks to get flights to Rwanda operational, despite the legislation being passed. The plan faces potential court challenges and has been met with criticism from human rights groups and opposition parties.

The Irish Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, is set to travel to London on Monday to discuss the returns policy with members of Sunak's government. McEntee revealed that 80% of recent arrivals to Ireland came from the UK across the Irish border, and said she will introduce fast processing and emergency legislation to effectively return people to the UK.

As the UK and Ireland grapple with the complexities of asylum policies and their cross-border implications, the debate over the effectiveness and morality of the Rwanda plan continues. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the fate of the UK's controversial asylum policy and its impact on both countries' migration systems.

Key Takeaways

• UK's Rwanda asylum plan claims to deter migrants, but drives influx to Ireland.
• Ireland plans to amend laws to allow return of inadmissible asylum seekers to UK.
• Sunak says Rwanda plan is working, but UK acknowledges delays in implementing flights.
• Ireland's Justice Minister to discuss returns policy with UK government this week.
• Debate continues over effectiveness and morality of UK's controversial asylum policy.