Over the weekend, the Home Office logged a staggering 748 migrants arriving in Kent after crossing the English Channel. Among them, 214 individuals were brought ashore at Dover on Saturday, followed by 534 making the crossing on Sunday.
UK Migrant Boat Arrivals Surge, Urgency Mounts for Rwanda Strategy Vote
Since the beginning of 2024, 6,265 migrants have landed in the UK via small boats, representing a considerable rise in arrivals. This surge emphasises the critical necessity for efficient situational management.
The government has emphasised the importance of adopting the suggested Rwanda strategy in response to what they call a 'unacceptable number' of water crossings. This method is intended to meet the issues presented by the current immigration trend.
One especially contentious feature of the planned policy is the potential of relocating selected asylum seekers to Rwanda, which has aroused controversy and prompted ethical concerns.
As Parliament returns from its Easter recess on Monday, voting on the Rwanda plan will begin, emphasising the gravity of the situation and the necessity for urgent action by politicians.
A representative for the Home Office stated, “We continue to work closely with French police who are facing increasing violence and disruption on their beaches as they work tirelessly to prevent these dangerous, illegal and unnecessary journeys.
“We remain committed to building on the successes that saw arrivals drop by more than a third last year, including tougher legislation and agreements with international partners, in order to save lives and stop the boats.”
UK's Controversial Asylum Policy Faces Parliamentary Battle Amidst Cost Concerns
According to Whitehall's official auditor, the deal will cost UK taxpayers around £1.8 million per asylum seeker, despite the fact that no one has yet been deported.
The Rwanda Safety (Asylum and Immigration) Bill will return to the Commons on Monday as the government seeks to overcome Lords amendments. It is projected to be sent back to the Lords on Tuesday before being returned to the Commons again.
Ministers will try to remove revisions proposed by peers who want additional legal safeguards, such as a provision requiring "due regard" for domestic and international law.
Victoria Atkins, the health secretary, stated on Sunday that the Home Office would be "ready to go" to implement the plan once the bill became law.
The legislation aims to restore the government's plan to send certain asylum seekers on one-way flights to Kigali. The programme has experienced a number of obstacles since Boris Johnson, the then-prime minister, launched it two years ago. It proclaims the east African country safe after the highest court ruled that the policy was unlawful.
Government insiders are convinced that the bill will be passed by the end of this week following another round of legislative ping pong between the Commons and Lords.