Charity recruits hundreds of volunteers in an effort to block Rwanda f lights
A CONTROVeRSIAL charity is planning new court challenges to Rwanda deportations despite a minister pledging yesterday that flights would finally take off ‘within weeks’.
The law is finally set to pass through Parliament this week, paving the way for the first illegal migrants to be sent to Africa.
But Care4Calais said it had recruited hundreds of volunteers to identify migrants who are due on the first flights and will help them make last-minute appeals.
A source at the refugee support group – which was reprimanded for historic misconduct and mismanagement by the Charity Commission last year – told the BBC: ‘human rights still apply –
we are ready to go.’ Its chief executive Steve Smith told the i newspaper: ‘ If Parliament passes the Rwanda Bill next week we will leave no stone unturned to identify those at risk and signpost them to get legal support.’
Last night former home Secretary Dame Priti Patel, who
announced the Rwanda plan on a trip to the capital Kigali exactly two years ago, told the Mail: ‘ These so- called charities continue to aid the evil peoplesmugglers by supporting a vast number of unmeritorious asylum claims and those who are jumping the asylum queue rather than supporting those in genuine need. They have chosen to prioritise political activism ahead of stopping the dangerous trade in people-smuggling and ending the tragedy of lives lost at sea.’
Rebel Tories who wanted the ‘emergency legislation’ to be far tougher, expect the courts to consider its declaration that Rwanda is safe, contrary to the view taken by the Supreme Court last autumn. ‘ The Supreme Court ruled the whole scheme illegal so I think courts might want to hear individuals’ cases in that context,’ said one source.
however Government sources insist they have taken legal challenges into account and do not expect them to delay the planned timetable of deportations.
health Secretary Victoria Atkins told Sky News yesterday the first flights to Rwanda could take off ‘within weeks’.
She said: ‘We want them to take off as quickly as possible. Certainly within weeks, we very much plan to have it within weeks.’