The British government says it has registered people seeking protection who will be deported to Rwanda this year. Parliament passed a law last week allowing deportations to Rwanda.

UN criticises the law

Human rights groups and the UN criticised the law, calling it “inhumane”. “The new legislation is a further step away from the UK's long tradition of providing refuge to people in need and therefore violates the Refugee Convention,” said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

“Protecting refugees requires that all countries, not just neighbouring crisis areas, fulfil their obligations.” Instead, the UK should take practical steps to manage irregular flows of refugees and migrants based on international cooperation and respect for international human rights standards, UN officials Grandi and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said in a statement. Press release.

First person deported to Rwanda

A first rejected asylum seeker has flown to Rwanda as part of another voluntary deportation programme, British media reported. However, this is a different programme to the deportation programme announced by the government two years ago.

Under the scheme, announced last month, asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected will be offered up to £3,000 to “relocate” to the East African country. According to the tabloid the sun A man who left the UK on Monday has agreed to be deported to Kigali. According to media reports, his asylum application was rejected late last year.

Deportations from Rwanda are scheduled to begin in mid-July

Last week, the British government passed a much-criticised law allowing migrants to be deported to Rwanda. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government plans to begin deportations in July.

The Supreme Court had earlier rejected the plan, declaring it illegal because the safety of the people after deportation could not be guaranteed. The government then classified Rwanda as a safe country.