Boris Johnson’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda is illegal, the United Nations said today, with its refugee agency slamming the proposal as an ‘egregious breach of international law’.
The government announced that they would provide an entry ticket for failed asylum seekers who have crossed the Channel with small boats to Rwanda this week. This will allow them to file for permanent residence in Rwanda.
Gillian Triggs, a UNHCR assistant secretary-general, said the agency ‘strongly condemns outsourcing the primary responsibility to consider the refugee status’, as proposed by the Prime Minister and Home Secretary Priti Patel.

Today, Boris Johnson’s plans to send Rwandan asylum seekers to Rwanda was dubbed an “egregious violation of international law” and a “really unacceptable” by United Nations refugee agency. Pictured: British Prime minister Boris Johnson visiting the Dover command center for the ‘Maritime Rescue coordination Centre’, Britain on April 14, 2022

While applications are being reviewed, Migrants who have traveled to the UK in small boats on their own will be flown to Rwanda on planes. Photo: The map illustrating the plans proposed by Prime Minister

Pictured: A group of migrants waiting to board the Port of Dover at noon after they were rescued crossing the English Channel close by Dover. April 15, 2022.
When Ms Triggs was told that Australia had used a similar strategy to reduce migration, she said, “My point is, just like the Australian policy is an outrageous breach of international law as well refugee and human rights laws, so is the proposal made by the United Kingdom Government.”
The purpose of the deterrent is very uncommon, only a few states have attempted it. I think that we don’t deny its effectiveness.
“But, what we are saying at UN Refugee Agency is that there many more legal effective ways to achieve the same result.”
She declared that it was unacceptable to try and’shift responsibility’ for asylum seekers in Britain.
Ms Triggs noted that Israel tried to send Eritrean or Sudanese refugees from Israel to Rwanda but they “simply left the country, and began the whole process over again.”
She added that “it isn’t actually a long term deterrent.”
Responding to UNHCR, MailOnline was informed by the Home Office that Rwanda is “fundamentally safe and secure” with an established track record in supporting asylum seekers. It noted that the UNHCR has previously sad the country is safe for refugees.
“Under this agreement, Rwanda will process claims in accordance with the UN Refugee Convention, national and international human rights laws, and will ensure their protection from inhuman and degrading treatment or being returned to the place they originally fled,’ the Home Office’s statement said.
It stated that there was nothing in the UN Refugee Convention to prevent a person from being moved to a safer country.
Mr Johnson last night pledged the first flights could take off within just six weeks, and said he would do ‘whatever it takes’ to push through his landmark scheme to tackle the small-boats crisis in the Channel and smash people trafficking gangs.
Revealing details of the dramatic strategy, Mr Johnson said ‘tens of thousands’ of Channel migrants would be sent to the East African nation – 4,000 miles away.
The Daily Mail understands the first flight is expected to leave before the end of next month – and the scheme will be back-dated to cover all those who have arrived in the UK since the start of the year.
Meanwhile on Friday, at least 50 migrants arrived in the UK by boat on the first official day of Navy patrols in the Channel.
About 25-30 migrants arrived at Dover harbour in Kent on Friday morning. Then, a second group of about 30 individuals was taken to shore aboard the Border Force cutter Valiant, shortly before 10.
While the Home Office or the MoD cannot confirm how many migrants arrived in the UK, today or Wednesday or Thursday, the MoD and Home Office have confirmed that there were more than 1,000 who made this dangerous crossing.
Official Home Office statistics show that at most 4,617 migrants have crossed the UK via small boats so far in this year. However, recent arrivals may increase the number of migrants crossing the border to the UK to over 5,500 by 2022.

An overview of Hope House’s facilities in Nyabugogo (the Gasabo district in Kigali capital) in Rwanda. This is the area where immigrants from Britain will be initially taken.
Ms Patel agreed a £120 million economic deal while in Kigali on Thursday, and money for each removal is expected to follow, with reports suggesting each migrant sent to Rwanda is expected to set British taxpayers back between £20,000 and £30,000.
According to the Times, this will cover both accommodation before and after travel as well as the price of the seat on the plane itself.
As part of this week’s reform package, the Royal Navy was given the responsibility of controlling the Channel. This is to reduce the small boat crossings.
According to MoD, the Navy detected 562 migrants from 14 small boats within the strait during the 24 hour period ending at 11.59pm Thursday April 14.
According to the department, it does not believe that any migrants came ‘on their terms’ in small boats on Thursday. However, on Good Friday, hundreds were brought ashore by single and married men, as well as children and women.
After people smuggling back to the UK, they were seen towing empty dinghies on the ships.
Minister for Justice and Tackling Illegal Migration, Tom Pursglove said Friday that the UK’s policy was in line with its legal obligations.
The Government is ready to face legal challenges, but he acknowledged it would be difficult to execute the Plan to Remove Asylum Seekers to Rwanda.
Times Radio interviewed him and said that he believed it was important to emphasize that when dealing with the issue, one must always adhere to international obligations such as the ECHR, European Convention on Human Rights, and the refugee Convention.
“We are confident in the compliance of our policies with this standard, and that they are compliant. This would also mean that any legal challenge would be futile.
“But it will not be easy, there will still be difficulties.”
In broadcast interviews, Mr Pursglove suggested that European countries might consider copying the UK’s Rwandan policies. He described them as “world-firsts”.


He stated that there was an’moral imperative” to stop human traffickers from thriving and to avoid tragedies such as the November sinking of a dinghy in the English Channel which drowned dozens of migrants headed to Britain.
“The point I’d make is that it is cruelly and inhumane to allow evil criminal gangs, to take advantage people, take their money to put them into small boats often with force including children to be put in the Channel, with all the risk that that poses to human lives,” he said to ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
“We cannot permit that to happen. That is why we have introduced the new immigration plan to end illegal migrations.”
The minister also argued that in the ‘longer term’ the scheme would save Britain money, with almost £5 million per day currently spent on accommodating those arriving in the country.
Andrew Mitchell (ex-Tory international development secretary) questioned the validity of that statement, noting that calculations indicated that it was cheaper for those arriving to Britain to stay at The Ritz Hotel in London’s Mayfair.
The price of each migrant sent to Rwanda to the taxpayer is estimated to be between £20,000 and £30,000. According to the Times, this sum will pay for accommodation prior to departure and a place on a chartered aircraft. It also covers their accommodation during their three-month stay in Rwanda.
The government will also spend £50 million on bolstering surveillance in the Channel – including new ships, military drones, and a Wildcat helicopter.
The policy has been protested by opposition politicians and people rights groups as well as campaign groups. These individuals labelled the policies as “evil”, “cruel” and “unethical”.
More than 160 British organisations – including Liberty, Stonewall and Greenpeace organised by Bond, the UK umbrella body of NGOs – all signed an open letter to the Prime Minister and Home Secretary in protest at the deal.
The ministers have prepared for fierce legal battles to prevent opponents from stopping the scheme. Johnson acknowledged that it would face legal challenges in court, but he maintained his confidence in its legality.
Yesterday’s major speech in Kent saw Johnson accept that the Rwandan agreement was not the’magic solution’ to the small-boats problem.
However, he stated that the channel would “save many lives” by ending the business model of the “vile people smugglers”, who are threatening to turn it into a “watery graveyard”.
Officials believe that Rwanda will expel thousands of people who illegally entered the country.
Johnson claimed that the arrangements made with Africa would be uncapped and that it has the ability to resettle many thousands more people over the next few years.
Although he said that the partnership will comply with all international legal obligations, the Minister acknowledged that there were potential court challenges.

One migrant in a wheelchair being helped to shore. Around 25 to 30 migrants arrived in Dover Harbour, Kent, around 2.30 a.m. this morning. A second group was not far behind.

Official Home Office statistics show that at most 4,617 migrants have crossed the UK via small boats so far in this year. However, recent arrivals may increase the number of migrants crossing the border to the UK to over 5,500 by 2022.
He said, “If the country is perceived as soft on illegal migration by certain of our partners it’s precisely because we have such an formidable army of politically motivated attorneys who have for years made it their business thwart removals, and frustrate Government.”
“So while I understand that the system may not be implemented immediately, I also promise to do my best to make this a reality. I’m sure we’ll work within the current legal and constitutional frameworks and will continue to look at any legal changes that might be needed.
Miss Patel said she is confident that she will be able resist attempts to stop her plans to go to court. The Home Secretary was asked whether she prepares for legal challenges. She replied, “We have to.” Just like our political adversaries just kind of form an opinion, we must also condemn all that the government does.
“Number 1: They don’t have any plan. They just keep voting everything down. The lawyers are also fleecing British taxpayers. This is a lot of legal aid money, which goes to the merry-go-round of claim after claim after case.
Asked if the scheme depended on legislation that was passed through Parliament and which has been criticized by critics, Miss Patel responded: ‘No, no. It’s not. This agreement partnership is not based on the Nationality and Borders Bill. Let me clarify that.
“In terms of domestic litig, we have worked extensively…the level of detail (in Memorandum of Understanding setting forth the agreement) are forensic.
The Law Society has dismissed the criticisms of Mr Johnson about lawyers. In a thinly veiled reference to Partygate, its president I. Stephanie Boyce said: ‘It is particularly disappointing – this week of all weeks – the Government is repeating misleading suggestions that legal challenges are politically motivated.
“Legal challenges” determine if the government is following its laws. The Government should follow the law of land if it wants to avoid losing court cases.
Zoe Abrams from British Red Cross stated that the organization was “profoundly concerned” about the suggestion to’send traumatised persons halfway around the world.
Enver Solomon, Refugee Council member, urged government to “immediately reconsider its plans” and Ian Blackford from the SNP Westminster leader said that the plan was a ‘disastrous’.
In a tourist hotel in Rwanda, Channel migrants will be hosted for as long as three months. They will stay in Australia-style plans to send them there in desperate need to find young men.
The UK plans to send refugees to Rwanda, but they are not expected to be implemented immediately.
According to Rwandan officials, Hope House is currently used by tourists as accommodation.
The East African government, which is privately owned, seems to be in talks to lease the property to asylum seekers from the UK. The process could last up to 3 months.
Priti Patel, Home Secretary of India made an exclusive visit today to view an example for accommodation that may be available.

The UK is expected to first send asylees to Rwanda to be taken to the ex-tourism hostel.
After being briefed and supervised by officials from the Foreign Office and Home Office, Ms Patel is expected to make her first trip to Rwanda in the past two years.
At present, the building has 50 rooms and can host around 100 guests.
However, plans are in place to grow the facility and build more accommodation blocks. It will eventually offer 150 rooms to accommodate up to 300 guests.
The expectation is that asylum seekers will be served three meals per day in a shared dining room. There are also some cooking facilities available for special diets.
Already, the government has faced massive criticism for its plan. Many claim that it is cruel and costly.
According to Dr Peter William Walsh of the Migration Observatory, Oxford, it will face “all sorts of logistical problems”.
MailOnline spoke to him, saying that Australia’s off-shore experiment was plagued by many problems. There were high suicide rates and abuse, not to mention the inability of people to access health care. There’s also the financial aspect.
It was 800x more costly to have them in Australia than it is to live there. It cost one billion Australian dollars (£567m) to house fewer than 300 people.
“There are many uncertainties about the plan, and there is a lot doubt about its viability given the difficulties it faces.”
Rwanda’s 1994 ethnic genocide which left 800,000. Tutsi victims dead is the most well-known incident in Rwanda. It still holds mixed records regarding human rights.
Amnesty International said that concerns remain about ‘enforced disappearedances’, allegations of torture, excessive use of force and other such matters.
Lord Harrington, the refugee minister, stated that it was impossible for migrants to be sent there earlier in this month. Boris Johnson, however, today called it “dynamic” and said that it was one of the most secure countries in the globe.

The East African government, which is privately owned, seems to be in discussions to lease the property to asylum seekers from the UK to temporarily stay while they process their claims.

There are 50 rooms in the complex, which can hold around 100 people. Each room has two persons and shares a communal bathroom.
Channel migrants will, it is believed, be processed in Britain and authorities will make a determination as to whether or not they are genuine asylum seekers.
If the migrants are considered to be illegal, they will be transferred to Rwanda where they can be helped to build their new lives.
Other cases may see all the asylum processing occurring after the claimant arrives to Rwanda. Their resettlement costs will be covered by Britain.
Telegraph – A source said that the British Army would participate to protect ‘battles along the quayside. They also added, ‘They’ll drive you to Rwanda and take you to the Airport.
The Refugee Council charity was among those to urge an immediate rethink of the plan, with chief executive Enver Solomon saying it would not work and would cost the taxpayer around £1.4billion a year as part of the while asylum system.
The United Nations refugee agency expressed its concern about the shifting of responsibility rather than sharing.
Labour’s and Mr Johnson’s Tory critics said it was an expensive move in order to divert attention from Partygate, which continues to embarrass No10.
Priti Patel, today’s press secretary, stated that the Rwandan agreement complies fully with international and national laws.
According to her, the agreement is in line with the vision of global Britain. It stimulates investment and job creation and harnesses potential for new relations.
The Home Secretary said: “Working together, United Kingdom and Rwanda will make immigration system fairer, safer, and ensure people have new opportunities to thrive.”
She explained that illegal immigrants to the UK will be taken into consideration for relocation.
She also stated that Britain is investing a significant amount in Rwanda’s economic growth, to help the country develop its economy and provide support for its citizens.
She stated, “This partnership is number one.” “Clearly, we are in dialog and have done so for more than nine months.
But Rwanda is a country with a unique past in refugee resettlement. Rwanda has a strong foundation of security and stability. It also respects the rule of the law and is home to a variety of institutions which have developed and improved over the years.
‘If I can say so, Rwanda is very forward-leaning and has been very active in the discussions that we had as well around economic growth and partnership but also respect for people, giving them the chance to find new opportunities and allowing them to effectively start their lives over, rebuild careers, and settle down here successfully.