Labour to Fast-Track Asylum Claims for 90k Migrants Due to be Sent to Rwanda

Fast-Tracking Asylum Claims

LABOUR is to fast-track the asylum claims of tens of thousands of migrants who were due to be sent to Rwanda.

Processing and Backlog

Of the 90,000 told they could be put on deportation flights, about 60,000 are predicted to have their claims accepted. Some of the Rwanda cohort had taken challenges to the High Court and were told yesterday that their claims would be processed within a week "as a priority."

Policy Changes

Former PM Rishi Sunak had made it impossible for migrants who arrived illegally to be granted refugee status, causing a backlog of cases since his Illegal Migration Act came into force 18 months ago.

Next Steps

Sir Keir Starmer, who has scrapped the Rwanda scheme, said processing would begin on the estimated 90,000 claims. Arrivals from so-called safe countries, such as India and Albania, will be considered first as their claims are likely to be rejected, leading to deportation.

Tragic Incident

It comes as a woman drowned on a small boat yesterday — the sixth person to die attempting a Channel crossing this week. A No10 spokeswoman said the incident "underlines the callousness of the criminal gangs who are driving this."