Britain’s newly ratified plan to put asylum seekers on one-way flights to Rwanda has drawn objections from human rights groups, British and European courts, the House of Lords and even some members of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party.
The Irish government said last week that asylum seekers in Britain who fear being deported to Rwanda are instead traveling to Ireland.
Irish officials estimate that 80 percent of recent applicants for asylum crossed into the country via Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and with which the Republic of Ireland has an open border.
That suggests that Britain’s vow to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is already having something of a deterrent effect, which was Mr. Sunak’s sales pitch for the policy.
On Sunday, Ireland’s prime minister, Simon Harris, said, “This country will not in any way, shape or form provide a loophole for anybody else’s migration challenges.”
Persons:
Rishi, Simon Harris, ”
Organizations:
Conservative Party, Northern Ireland
Locations:
Rwanda, Ireland, Britain, Northern, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Ukraine