Explained | How Will Indian Illegal Migrants In The UK Be Affected By The Rwanda Deportation Plan?

The plan to relocate some migrants to Rwanda was approved by Parliament early Tuesday, and it was confirmed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that deportation flights would commence in July.

Rwanda's deportation plan involves the relocation of some asylum seekers who arrive in the UK to Rwanda, where their claims will be processed under a five-year agreement.

UK's Rwanda Deportation Plan

This plan will apply specifically to those who are deemed to have entered the UK illegally after January 1, 2022. If successful, these asylum seekers could potentially be granted refugee status and allowed to stay in Rwanda. Alternatively, if their claims are unsuccessful, they may have the option to seek asylum in another "safe third country" or apply to settle in Rwanda on other grounds, according to a report by the BBC.

Under this arrangement, no asylum seeker would have the option to apply to return to the UK. The rationale behind deporting asylum seekers is argued by the government as a deterrent to individuals attempting to arrive in the UK via small boats across the English Channel, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Details regarding the number of individuals on these flights have not been disclosed, but plans for "multiple flights a month through the summer and beyond" were mentioned by Sunak. The government has reportedly made preparations by increasing detention spaces to 2,200 and deploying 200 dedicated caseworkers to expedite processing. Additionally, 25 courtrooms and 150 judges are available to handle legal cases associated with the plan, according to the report.

Regarding the impact on Indians by the Rwanda plan:

• The number of Indians seeking asylum in the UK in 2023 surpassed the 5,000 mark for the first time. Post-pandemic, Afghanistan topped the list with close to 9,300 applications, followed by Iran (7,397), Pakistan (5,273), and India (5,253), as reported by The Hindu (premium article).
• More than 1,000 Indians risked their lives in 2023 by crossing the English Channel from Europe in inflatable small boats for job opportunities and asylum in the UK.
• Last year, 1,192 Indian migrants embarked on the perilous journey to reach the UK. Indians ranked ninth, while the majority of those who successfully crossed into the UK hailed from Afghanistan (5,545 people), Iran (3,562), and Turkey (3,060).
• The share of illegal migrants from India aged 18-29 has witnessed a significant surge, comprising nearly 60 per cent of the total number of illegal Indian migrants who crossed into the UK in 2023, according to the report.