The British government has begun detaining people it says are on the list for deportation to Rwanda. The first detentions come a day after the government was accused of having "lost track" of thousands of asylum seekers supposedly on the deportation list.
The British government has been working hard since it voted to pass the Safety of Rwanda act last week to try and demonstrate that its Rwanda policy is not in tatters or a "sham" as many of those who oppose it have declared.
On Wednesday (May 1), the government announced in a press release that "the first phase of detentions are underway for Rwanda relocations."
Alongside the statement, it released a video of at least two of these detentions. Although the video appeared to be intercut to look like more, it appeared to show the police turning up outside at least two different houses and marching blurred and handcuffed people out and into barred police vans. The numbers of how many have actually been detained is not yet clear.
The government's message was clearly communicated, that the hoped for deterrent effect of the Rwanda policy has begun to work. Home Secretary (Interior Minister) James Cleverly stated in the press release: "Operational teams within the Home Office have been working at pace to safely and swiftly detain individuals in scope for relocation to Rwanda, with more activity due to be carried out in the coming weeks."
Cleverly admits in the press release that delivering on the legislation and detaining people under the act is "a complex piece of work."
Has the government 'lost track' of some asylum seekers?
Just a day before the video was released, various news agencies and broadcasters, including the German press agency dpa, Reuters and the BBC reported that the UK government may have "lost track" of at least half, if not more, of the 5,700 asylum seekers in the UK it had already put on a list to be deported to Rwanda.
On April 30, the BBC reported that documents show that only "2,143 [of those on the list] continue to report to the Home Office and can be located for detention." This was denied by the Prime Minister's Office, who said that information was "not accurate." However, Kevin Saunders, a former chief immigration officer at Border Force told the BBC on Tuesday that many of those on the list had performed "disappearing acts," because of fears of deportation.
'They will be found'
Ministers have insisted the enforcement teams will find them. "The Home Office is used to this operationally, law enforcement officers are used to this," MP Victoria Atkins told Sky News. "So the expectation is that we remove that group of people, as well as others, by the end of the year … We want the message to go out loud and clear that if somebody doesn't report as they should do, they shouldn't think that they will get away with it. They will be found.
"Law enforcement have a variety of measures to find people, they will be found and they will be removed."
On Tuesday, the UK government also confirmed that the first failed asylum seeker had travelled to Rwanda under a separate voluntary scheme.
First flights due to take off in the summer
A spokesman for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was pleased that "the first detentions have taken place."
"It's obviously an important part of now operationalising the plan to get flights off the ground in nine to 11 weeks time and provide the effective deterrent that we need to stop seeing these dangerous boat crossings," he added.
The British government said on Wednesday it has increased detention capacity to more than 2,200 spaces ahead of the first Rwanda flights, adding that commercial charter planes have also been booked and an airport has been put on standby.
NGOs, civil society concerned over Rwanda pact
The FDA civil servant union said that it has appealed the new law, saying that it forces its members to go against their governing code.
"Civil servants should never be left in a position where they are conflicted between the instructions of ministers and adhering to the Civil Service Code, yet that is exactly what the Government has chosen to do", said FDA General Secretary Dave Penman. "It's a political choice from the government, made not for the good of the country but to avoid upsetting either of the warring factions within its own party", he said, adding "it's also irresponsible."
Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, has warned that the Rwanda pact won't act as a deterrent and called it a "flight of fancy."
A spokesperson from Care4Calais said the charity's helpline had received calls from "tens of people," adding that they still did not know who would be on the first deportation flight.
Natasha Tsangarides, the Associate Director of Advocacy at charity Freedom from Torture, has warned that the fear of being detained and deported to Rwanda would push some people to go underground and disengage with official social support systems.
With AFP and Reuters