UK Immigration Minister Resigns Amid Rwanda Bill Dispute

Improve the News Foundation -

Facts

  • UK Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick has resigned over concerns about the efficacy of current efforts to cut illegal migration to Britain. This comes amid intensified Conservative party infighting over an emergency bill passed Wednesday, designed to enable deportation flights to Rwanda — which have faced a multitude of legal challenges — to take place.1
  • Jenrick's resignation letter warned that, despite efforts made in the 'Safety of Rwanda' bill to address human rights concerns and subvert additional legal challenges, the policy 'does not go far enough.'2
  • Under the plan, Britain would deport thousands of asylum seekers who arrive without prior permission to Rwanda so as to deter further migration. UK Home Secretary James Cleverly traveled to the Rwandan capital of Kigali on Tuesday to meet with foreign minister Vincent Biruta and sign a new treaty firming up the agreement.3
  • The latest treaty includes revisions specifying that Rwanda cannot deport asylum seekers (already deported from Britain) to nations where their life or freedom may face threat. This possibility was highlighted by the UK Supreme Court, which found in a November ruling that, under domestic law, the plan violates international human rights.4
  • The new legislation also disapplies parts of the Human Rights Act from the policy. However, it stops short of exempting the plans from falling under the remit of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), as some on the right-wing of the Conservative party had called for.5
  • Despite ongoing opposition from human rights groups, the UK government argues that discouraging illegal migration is crucial to tackling the prevalence of illicit crossings of the English Channel, often facilitated by people-smuggling gangs. So far this year, more than 27.3K people have attempted the journey from Northern France.6

Sources: 1The Telegraph, 2The Times, 3CNN, 4France 24, 5Sky News and 6Associated Press.

Narratives

  • Right narrative, as provided by Associated Press. Deportations to Rwanda will discourage migrants from illegally entering the UK, and will help disrupt the human trafficking business models currently kept afloat by the prevalence of illicit channel crossings into Britain. The UK has far too much illegal migration and radical action must be taken to put a stop to this.
  • Left narrative, as provided by CNN. The Rwanda plan is not only immoral, but will likely be an ineffective waste of money too. Individuals will continue trying to migrate to the UK no matter what programs are in place, and this policy's funding would be better spent at home than abroad. Additionally, Rwanda has a shady track record with human rights — sending any vulnerable migrants to the country would be reckless and wrong.