For too long immigration policy has been at the mercy of liberal lawyers
SIR – The Government’s effort to deport illegal immigrants to Rwanda has turned into a farce, sabotaged by a small yet vociferous minority and aided and abetted by liberal lawyers (report, June 15).
For many years it has seemed almost impossible to deport anyone from Britain, no matter what their crime or how invalid their claim to remain. The doctrine of human rights seems to trump all other arguments.
To enter any country without proper documentation or without going through a recognised point of access is illegal. Britain, a sovereign state, has the undeniable right to decide who is allowed to live here, and its government has the executive powers to act on this.
Britain has a long history of accepting genuine refugees and needs no lectures on its responsibilities, international or otherwise. Most voters are fed up with seeing their wishes thwarted by Left-wing activists.
Mick Richards
Worcester SIR – The Government is doomed to failure in its efforts to deport asylum seekers until it reforms or repeals the Human Rights Act.
Even then, we will still be signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights, and an appeal to Strasbourg will still be possible. Both these situations need to be resolved before any more time, money and effort are expended on a futile project.
James Farrington
Hartfield, East Sussex
SIR – I am nearly 93 and have voted Conservative all my life, but will withhold my support next time if the awful plan to send migrants to Rwanda eventually goes ahead.
I am horrified at what is being done to correct a problem that lies mostly with the French, who have shamelessly allowed (or even encouraged) migrants to travel across the country to the Calais area – where they live in appalling conditions – with the sole aim of crossing the Channel, at enormous risk, and seeking refuge with us.
Kel Prince
Rothley, Leicestershire
SIR – The plan to deport illegal immigrants to Rwanda has met with opprobrium in many quarters, from politicians to the Lords Spiritual to (allegedly) the Prince of Wales. What is not clear is whether these people are objecting to deportation per se or to deportation to Rwanda in particular. I suspect that if the deportation was to, say, France, those against the plan would be less vocal.
Rwanda’s reputation stems from the 1994 genocide. Today, however, it is a very different place, as I have seen during five visits in the past 10 years, working in support of a charity. The people describe themselves as Rwandans, rather than Tutsis or Hutus, and I have never found them anything but a joy to be with. The country is thriving.
Peter Munro