The tug Mercia tows the barge Bibby Stockholm to Portland in Dorset. The British government wants to temporarily house migrants in a floating shelter and has organized the first boat for this, despite criticism from its own ranks. The barge will have capacity for about 500 people. (Photo: dpa)

Photo: Ben Birchall

The British government is trying to discourage refugees and asylum seekers from crossing the English Channel in small boats with drastic measures and laws. After heavy criticism of plans to immediately bring refugees to Rwanda, where they would have to await their trials in camps, another deportation site for migrants entering illegally was highlighted over the weekend. As several British newspapers reported on Sunday, citing government circles, asylum seekers could be sent to the volcanic island of Ascension in the South Atlantic if Rwanda’s controversial plans ultimately fail.

The proposal to send asylum seekers to the inhospitable island, more than 6,000 kilometers away, had already been raised by the then Home Secretary, Priti Patel, in 2020, but was rejected by the then government as it was considered unviable. The opposition called it “crazy, inhuman, absurdly expensive and impractical.” Now it seems possible again. On Monday, Sarah Dines, Secretary of State at the Home Office, confirmed the Ascension option as a possible alternative for Rwanda, The Guardian writes.

Ascension is a tropical island of 88 square kilometers. in the South Atlantic between Africa and South America. Together with the island of Saint Helena and the archipelago of Tristan da Cunha, it forms the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. The volcanic island, the size of Föhr, serves as a military base for the British and Americans.

Plans for Rwanda not yet ruled out

However, it is unclear to what extent this option is being seriously considered. Dines said in an interview with Times Radio that they were very confident that Rwanda’s policy was legal and would initially focus on that. Like any responsible government, we must also be alert to additional measures. “So we’re looking at everything to make sure our policies work.” The government must do everything it can to reduce the attraction of illegal smuggling gangs who are exploiting the system, Dines said.

After Dines’ seemingly uncoordinated advance, the government attempted to dispel the impression that Ascension was being seriously considered, but without taking an official position on the matter, The Guardian reports. A government spokesman confirmed at a news conference that other countries were also being discussed, without naming them. However, they are very confident that the green light will be given to welcome the migrants in Rwanda. According to the Times, there have been talks with Ghana, Nigeria, Namibia, Morocco and Niger, among others.

Also joining the debate was Conservative politician Jacob Rees-Mogg, former Chancellor of the Exchequer under Liz Truss. The plan to bring asylum seekers to Ascension was also scrapped in 2020 because such a project would simply have been too expensive – at least £1 million per person, he said in an interview with GB News. These are costs that the British could not bear today.

However, for the moment there will be no quick deportations. The legal dispute over Rwanda’s policy is not over yet. After the High Court ruled the policy was legal, the Court of Appeal ruled in June that it was not because the asylum system in Rwanda was inadequate. Now the country’s highest court, the Supreme Court, should finally clarify the matter. According to the Observer, a verdict is expected in late fall.

High fines for business owners and owners

Deportations to inhospitable and distant areas are not the British government’s only deterrent measure against illegal immigrants. They should also dramatically increase fines on businesses and landlords that employ or house illegal immigrants. The Secretary of State responsible, Robert Jenrick, accused “unscrupulous” company bosses who allowed undocumented work to boost the business of people smugglers. Under the plans, fines for companies would increase from £15,000 to £45,000 (€52,000) per illegally employed worker. Penalties for landlords will be increased tenfold, from £1,000 per tenant to £10,000.

Uncomfortable accommodation for asylum seekers on barges

To dispel hopes of comfortable accommodation generated by smugglers, asylum seekers will initially be housed on converted barges. As reported by several media outlets, the first men arrived on Monday at the port of the city of Portland, in the south of England. There, several people protested against the anchoring of the ship called “Bibby Stockholm”, others against the asylum policy of the conservative government. Ultimately, a total of 500 men aged between 18 and 65 will await the outcome of their asylum procedure aboard the three-story barge.

The “Bibby Stockholm” was recently used as floating accommodation for oil workers. In the mid-90s it also housed asylum seekers and homeless people in Hamburg. At that time it was designed for about 200 inmates. As reported by the BBC, the capacity has been increased to 500 people with the help of bunk beds. Therefore, the firefighters union warned about the risks. With this measure, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants to solve a space problem when it comes to housing immigrants and avoid the high costs of hotel rooms. The government wants to use other similar barges.

Drastic tightening of laws

Under a new law, anyone who has tried to enter the country illegally will lose all right to return. Anyone entering the country without permission will be detained immediately, deported as soon as possible and will no longer be able to claim asylum in Britain, regardless of their personal circumstances. However, the UK Conservative government is failing to offer safe and legal alternative routes for asylum seekers, as human rights groups have long called for.

The number of people entering the country irregularly rose to 45,000 last year, even though conservative forces had announced that migration would decrease with Brexit. However, there have been no further devolution agreements with the EU since then. (with dpa)