Migrants to Rwanda

sir – Those who have defended the plan to deport Channel migrants to Rwanda are in the right. There is no other measure that will undercut the traffickers as effectively and put an end to the dangerous and criminal smallboat crossings as quickly.

The United States has long implemented comparable policies in the Straits of Florida. Australia uses off-shore processing to dissuade illegal migrants. Many other countries have similar programmes.

The UN refugee agency UNHCR, which has backed legal action to block the policy (report, June 13), has a long history of blurring the distinction between Convention refugees – people fleeing persecution, for whom it has a responsibility – and economic migrants, who do not fall under its purview.

Brunson Mckinley

Former Director General, International Organisation for Migration Geneva, Switzerland

sir – In the name of humanity, we as a Christian country cannot allow our Government to deport refugees to Rwanda.

We would never forgive ourselves, nor would we deserve to be forgiven by others, if we were to use innocent people as pawns to solve the refugee problem. I implore the Government to stop this action now.

Diana Sharp

Chirnside, Berwickshire