The first flight will leave in 10 to 12 weeks. This is one of the most complex operational endeavors the Home Office has carried out, but we are ready. Plans are in place, and these flights will go, come what may. No foreign court will stop us from getting flights off. Every person who moved to the UK must be cautious because the government is now deploying police to apprehend those deemed illegal migrants following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement weeks ago. The first flight for deportation is imminent.
It’s important to consider what comes next. The deportation bill applies to both legal and illegal migrants, as confirmed by the Home Office in recent days. This indicates a decline in numbers, particularly among care workers. If your visa in the UK has expired, if you’ve been jobless since your care company’s license got revoked, or if you’re an asylum seeker, this update is crucial for you. Stay tuned as we provide the latest on UK immigration.
The government has begun arresting migrants for deportation. I’ll provide detailed insights into these new updates, particularly focusing on whom the UK government is targeting in these recent arrests. But before we dive in, make sure to subscribe to our channel, Travel Abroad Migration, for daily updates on UK visas and immigration. Without any more delays, let’s jump right into the video.
British authorities have initiated a series of operations to detain migrants gearing up for their deportation to Rwanda as part of Prime Minister Rishi’s flagship immigration policy. The UK Home Office released a video on Wednesday depicting armed immigration officers handcuffing individuals at their homes and escorting them for deportation. In a statement, the UK government announced a series of nationwide operations preceding the first deportations set to commence in the next 9 to 11 weeks. Interior Minister James Cleverly emphasized that enforcement teams were diligently working to swiftly detain those without the right to be in the country, facilitating flight departures.
Sunak, expected to call an election later this year, reiterated that the flagship immigration policy aims to discourage crossings of the English Channel. However, unions and human rights charities have expressed dismay at the ongoing wave of arrests. While some have managed to block transfers to removal centers, they report increasing difficulty in initiating legal actions.
The campaign of mass arrests targets a specific group. As announced by the Home Office, this initial cohort comprises approximately 5,700 men and women who arrived in the UK without prior permission between January 2022 and June 2023. Individuals falling within this category have received a notice of intent indicating that they are being considered for deportation on the first flight. However, recent revelations indicate that government data reveals a concerning trend: the Home Office has lost contact with thousands of potential deportees. Only 2,143 individuals have been located for detention thus far, leaving more than 3,500 unaccounted for. Some are believed to have fled across the Northern Irish border into Ireland, while others include individuals who have failed to attend mandatory appointments with UK authorities.
Ministers have emphasized that enforcement teams will continue their efforts to locate them. Several migrants who did attend compulsory appointments with UK authorities as part of their asylum applications this week have been arrested and are slated to be on the first deportation flight. The government has not disclosed precise figures for the number of arrests made since the operation commenced on Monday. Detentions have been reported across the UK, spanning England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, including cities like Bristol, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Glasgow.
Can legal action halt the deportations? The Conservative Party’s plan to deport immigrants who entered the UK without permission has encountered over two years of legal hurdles and political disputes between the two houses of Parliament. In June 2022, the first flight intended to transport refugees to Rwanda was cancelled at the 11th hour by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Last year, the UK Supreme Court ruled the deportation scheme unlawful, citing the government’s inability to ensure the safety of migrants upon their arrival in Rwanda.
On Wednesday, the senior civil servants’ union FDA submitted an application for a judicial review against the government’s Rwanda plan. They argue that it places their members at risk of breaching international law if they comply with a minister’s demands. It should be noted that appeals could also be lodged at the European Court of Human Rights; however, this process is time-consuming and unlikely to prevent someone from being relocated to Rwanda in the interim.
It remains to be seen how this situation will unfold, particularly whether the bill will be cancelled by the European Court of Human Rights. As of now, the Prime Minister has announced that it cannot be ruled out by the court, implying that the bill stands for the time being.
If your visa has expired in the UK, if you’ve been jobless since your care company’s license was revoked, or if you’re an asylum seeker, it’s crucial to stay informed about these developments. We hope this information has been helpful to you. Rwanda is ready too, and I’d like to thank the government of Rwanda for their work in strengthening their asylum system, passing legislation, and setting up a new appeals tribunal.
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