Amid rising concerns over the UK’s Rwanda deportation policy, Ireland’s government has taken a stance, outlining plans to amend legislation that would enable the return of certain asylum seekers to the UK. The Taoiseach, Simon Harris, has tasked Justice Minister Helen McEntee with formulating proposals that would categorize the UK as a safe ‘third countries,’ effectively denying some migrants the ability to claim asylum in Ireland if they have traveled through the UK.
According to McEntee, a staggering 80% of asylum seekers in Ireland have arrived via the UK, a statistic that has sparked serious debate within Irish politics and has prompted immediate action. The justice minister revealed, “”That’s why I’m introducing fast processing. That’s why I’ll have emergency legislation at cabinet this week to make sure that we can effectively return people to the UK and that’s why I’ll be meeting with the home secretary [James Cleverly] to raise these issues on Monday.”
The UK’s Rwanda policy, which controversially proposes relocating some asylum seekers to the central African nation, has become a matter of international scrutiny and has had notable ripple effects. Tánaiste Micheál Martin highlighted that “the UK government’s Rwanda policy meant people were fearful of staying in the UK and were crossing the border to the Republic so they would not be sent to Rwanda,” Martin stated, underlining the policy’s impact.
Rishi Sunak, the UK Prime Minister, defended the policy’s intention to deter illegal immigration, stating, “The deterrent is – according to your comment – already having an impact, because people are worried about coming here and that demonstrates exactly what I’m saying: if people come to our country illegally, but know that they won’t be able to stay, they’re much less likely to come.”
The planned changes in Ireland reflect a broader concern over immigration policy post-Brexit, as well as the integrity and efficacy of the nation’s immigration system. A spokesperson for Harris emphasized, “Ireland has a rules-based system that must always be applied firmly and fairly.”
While no asylum seekers have yet been sent to Rwanda from the UK, Sunak remains optimistic about the policy, suggesting that the first deportation flights could take place within weeks.
Relevant articles:
– Rwanda plan: Irish government wants to send asylum seekers back to UK, bbc.co.uk, 04/28/2024
– Ireland plans to send asylum seekers back to UK under emergency law, The Guardian, Sun, 28 Apr 2024 12:06:28 GMT
– Ireland wants to return asylum seekers to the UK, POLITICO Europe, Sun, 28 Apr 2024 13:23:48 GMT
– Irish government plans to send asylum seekers back to UK under new laws, WION, Sun, 28 Apr 2024 11:38:40 GMT
– Ireland plans to send asylum seekers back to UK, Le Monde, Sun, 28 Apr 2024 10:48:05 GMT