This Rwanda deal…. I’m becoming increasingly sceptical.
And the reason why I’m becoming increasingly sceptical is because of headlines like this: First illegal migrants to be told about relocation this week.
Then the line underneath, in much smaller print, reads: First flights expected to leave in the coming months…
So people who arrive here illegally may or may not be told they’re going to Rwanda and they may or may not be sent there in the next few months…
It’s hardly convincing is it?
And it’s hardly a deterrent.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has recently outlined plans to send migrants to Rwanda to be processed.
JEAN BIZIMANA
I’m concerned about a few elements of this - firstly, that we’ve just been lied to about this. I’m concerned that Rwanda might be a big smokescreen.
A delaying tactic.
I’m concerned the Home Office and Boris actually don’t think they can do anything about illegal immigration, knew they had the local elections coming up and thought they’d come up with a plan that they have no intention of actually seeing through just so they could buy themselves a bit of time.
Patrick Christys says he still harbours concerns over the deal.
Gareth Fuller
I’m concerned that if you tell people in these ridiculous asylum seeker hotels that they’re going to be deported in a few months’ time, then they’ll just abscond. I’ve been to one of these hotels, the security was basically just one spotty faced teenager sat in a car on his phone.
I just walked straight past him and into the hotel, so it’s hardly beyond the realms of possibility that some of these people could walk the other way and never be seen again.
I’m also concerned about the wider security threat to the public. Before the Guardian and the usual worthy types jump on me for what I’m about to say – no, I don’t think 99% of these people pose a risk to the public.
But the plain fact of the matter is we don’t know who a lot of these people are or what their state of mind is and so if we annoy them by saying we’re going to deport them to Africa, and then don’t do it immediately, who knows what could happen.
We need to get a move on.
But now we’re already being told about future plans. There’ll be more Rwanda-style deals!
Ok, so what does that mean? As it currently stands that still means no deportations.
It still means no deterrent. In fact, this pathetic line came out today: There is a hope the scheme will soon deter further people from making Channel crossings.
That won’t happen until we see planes taking off. In terms of this Rwanda deal, I’ll believe it when I see it.
