The first group of asylum seekers have been notified of their deportation to Rwanda and they will be carried on a flight which is set to take off on June 14, according to officials. It comes just less than two months after plans were announced by the UK Home Office to send people to the East African country.
Alongside this, in the last few days documents were sent to those seeking asylum which gave out information on Rwanda, the documents were shared with those at risk of deportation, reported ITV. The leaflets highlighted what Rwanda is like as a country, amongst other information deemed relevant to those who could be sent there.
Plans were solidified in April when the UK signed a £120 million economic deal with the Rwandan government, which will see asylum seekers who cross the Channel in small boats sent for processing to Rwanda, where they will have the right to apply to live.
can do if you receive a Rwanda removal notice. He said: “One thing to understand is that it is not ‘failed asylum seekers’ being sent to Rwanda and asylum seekers are not being sent just to be processed there. The people being sent will not have their asylum claims considered in the UK. Rwanda will process and decide their asylum claims, and people whose claims are successful will then be permanently settled in Rwanda.
“The first thing is to find a solicitor who can assist you. If you really can’t find one for any reason, only then attempt to respond on your own, even then making clear in your response your efforts to find a lawyer and that you could not find one so that is why you are forced to respond yourself.
“Although, hopefully people who are receiving these notices should not have a problem finding lawyers to take on their case. Most people receiving these notices will be in detention and not able to afford legal fees. In which case they should look for a legal aid lawyer. If detained, they should contact the Welfare team for a list of legal aid lawyers or directly contact lawyers on the Detention Duty Advice Scheme, who visit detention centres regularly.
“The first notice is just a ‘notice of intent’ that you are on the list of people they are considering for removal to Rwanda, it is not a final decision that you will be sent. So it can still be challenged at this point, and definitely should be challenged. Detained asylum seekers are usually given 7 days to respond while others have 14 days.
“Make sure you do reply within this time period. In case you cannot find a lawyer or there are other reasons you cannot respond by the deadline, email the Home Office explaining the situation and asking for an extension. You should be given at least a few days extension, if not more. When responding to the notice, you should explain why you feel you should not have been selected for removal to Rwanda and secondly any specific reasons why you should not be sent there.
“Explain any health problems you may have, any other vulnerability or any other exceptional reason in your case. If you have any evidence, submit that too. If there is any potential evidence that you need further time to obtain, mention that and request further time so you can submit that.
“Mainly, you will have to explain why it was not possible or safe for you to claim asylum in any country that you passed on your way to the UK. If you have any family or other ties in the UK, mention that. If you have been mistreated, tortured or exploited in the past, tell the Home Office about that too. There are many charities and NGOs supporting people in this situation, so contact them and see what help they can provide as well.”