Flight to Repatriate Failed Asylum-Seekers
A plane originally scheduled to fly migrants to Rwanda was due to take failed asylum-seekers back to Vietnam last night. This marks the first such flight since 2021, with 50 Vietnamese individuals being returned to their country.
Return Deal with Hanoi
Failed asylum-seekers, who are likely to have been in the UK system for some time, are being removed under a returns deal with Hanoi. The Labour government has established a returns and enforcement unit to expedite the process of removing those who have no right to stay in the UK.
Rocketing Numbers and Fast-Tracked Claims
Migrants from Vietnam have seen a significant increase, with over 1,000 crossing the Channel in the first three months of the year and nearly 3,500 since 2018. Last week, it was revealed that the Labour government will fast track the asylum claims of an estimated 90,000 individuals who are set to go to Rwanda.
Processing and Backlog Challenges
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's policy made it impossible for migrants arriving illegally to be granted refugee status, leading to a backlog of cases. Sir Keir Starmer has scrapped the Rwanda scheme and stated that processing of the estimated 90,000 claims will commence.
Tackling the Backlog
Efforts are underway to address the backlog without repealing the Illegal Migration Act. Arrivals from countries deemed safe, like India and Albania, will be prioritized as their claims are likely to be rejected, resulting in deportation.
