Organisations supporting asylum seekers says Rwanda plan is 'destined to fail'
The Refugee Council have supported the resettlement of people in Lincolnshire and run services for those in need
Organisations that support people in the UK asylum system concludes that the Government’s Illegal Migration Act and Rwanda Plan will not act as deterrent to ‘stop the boats’ and is already leading to refugees disappearing from contact with support organisations.
The Refugee Council who have supported the resettlement of people in Lincolnshire and run services for those in need - strongly oppose the bill.
They also say that the Rwanda plan and the new legislation, are more likely to result in people taking journeys that are even more dangerous, and that it will drive vulnerable people underground, having a severe negative impact on people’s mental health.
Enver Solomon is the Chief Executive of the organisation and there needs to be more compassion…
"So at the Refugee Council, we work with people that have been stuck in limbo, with their lives on hold for months, years on end, waiting to have their asylum claim processed.
"And it's a consequence of really gross government mismanagement and failure of the asylum system that it's left people waiting at a huge cost to the British taxpayer.
"The fact that they've been left waiting is a real government failure and it doesn't need to be like this. The government could have gripped the system.
"We need to absolutely control our borders, but we also need to demonstrate compassion and that's why we shouldn't leave people left in limbo for months, years on end, and we must always give them a fair hearing in the UK rather than shipping them to Rwanda."
Enver added that he does not believe this plan will work:
"I think that the Rwanda plan is destined to fail. It's not gonna work because it won't stop people taking dangerous journeys coming across the channel.
"We work with these people, men, women and children from countries like Afghanistan, where the Taliban are hounding their opponents, and from places persecuting people -countries like Sudan, where there's a civil war. People come to the UK because they want to be safe.
"They come as refugees and this plan is not gonna stop them.
"It's unworkable, but I think it's also unprincipled because it's slamming our door in the face of people who, through no fault of their own, have lost everything. And we should be giving them a fair hearing in the UK."
Home secretary James Cleverly's insisted it's an "innovative and humane solution".
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer dismissed the Rwanda plan as a "gimmick" and piece of political "performance art".