Refugees to be told of Rwanda deporting

ASYLUM seekers are expected to be told this week they could be sent to Rwanda as part of the Government’s latest deportation policy.

It is understood the Home Office will notify the first group of people that they face a one-way ticket to the East African nation, amid legal challenges over the plans.

Described by Home Secretary Priti Patel as a “world first” agreement when it was announced last month, the scheme will see asylum seekers who are deemed to have arrived in the UK “illegally” sent to

Rwanda, where their claims will be processed.

If successful, they will be granted asylum or given refugee status in the country. Those with failed bids will be offered the chance to apply for visas under other immigration routes if they wish to remain in Rwanda but could still face deportation.

Previously, the Prime Minister reportedly said he wanted to see the first flights take off by the end of May, but officials are still unable to say when removals could begin and how many people the Government is initially seeking to deport.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the flights could take place within the next few weeks, with a small number of single men set to be removed in the first instance.

Ms Patel has insisted the Government’s plan to send migrants to Rwanda sends a “clear signal” but it will “take time” to implement.

She said she would use “every tool and every piece of legislation at our disposal” to remove migrants who arrive in the UK “illegally”.

Speaking during a visit to the Metropolitan

Police specialist training centre in Gravesend,

Kent, she said there were “barriers and hurdles” to overcome

But she added that the Government was determined to “remove those with no legal basis of being in the UK, to Rwanda”.