The UK’s announcement to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda has sent shockwaves through humanitarian groups working with refugees already in the country. Although this measure is still under discussion in Parliament, it has already had significant repercussions on people seeking protection.
Fear of deportation
Sami, a 20-year-old Afghan refugee, fled his country in 2020 at the age of 16 after losing his family. Arriving in the UK in January 2022, he thought his grueling journey was finally coming to an end. However, in April that year, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that anyone who arrived illegally after January 1, 2022 would be returned to Rwanda, around 6,400 km away. Sami was shocked by this news, finding himself plunged into fear and uncertainty.
Operating risks
NGOs in the UK say the move will not help achieve the government’s aim of tackling traffickers and reducing migration to the country, but will leave vulnerable asylum seekers more exposed to exploitation. According to the Refugee Council, this policy has already resulted in refugees falling off the radar of support organizations, and sowing confusion, panic and fear among these vulnerable populations.
Discussions in progress
The plan is still sparking debate in Parliament and is expected to return to the House of Commons in the coming weeks. The ruling Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has pledged to get the first deportation flight off the ground this spring. In the meantime, asylum seekers continue to take risks by crossing the Channel to reach the United Kingdom.
More than ever, it is essential that policy decisions take into account the real human impact and address the root causes of forced displacement, in order to provide protection and security to the most vulnerable people in our society.
If you would like to know more about the situation for asylum seekers in the UK, you can read the following articles published on our blog:
1. “The humanitarian crisis of asylum seekers in the United Kingdom: testimonies and actions to take”
2. “The devastating consequences of the policy of expulsion of asylum seekers on local communities”
3. “The challenges faced by NGOs working with asylum seekers: how to support them effectively”