- Conference
- 2023 National Black Members’ Conference
- Date
- 29 September 2022
- Decision
- Carried
The Nationality and Border Act which became law in April 2022, opens the door for the Government to transfer its Refugee Convention responsibilities to another country for money estimated at £1.5 billion, by forcibly expelling asylum seekers to Rwanda, following Australian example, which has been condemned as cruel, inhuman, or degrading.
Under the new five-year trial scheme, once asylum seekers are sent to Rwanda, their cases will be processed under Rwandan legal system, and they will not be able to return to the UK. It will include women, children, transgender, and LGBT, particularly the latter, who turn to the UK for safety will be in danger. Rwanda presents a hostile environment as local officials accuse them of deviant behaviour, which is inconsistent with local values and sentiments, and are often imprisoned.
The British government is engaging in a harsh trick, declaring all asylum seekers illegal unless they come through approved channels which are virtually non-existent. It is worth noting that no analysis has been carried out by the UK government to gauge the adverse impact on people’s (especially children’s) emotional, psychological, and physical well-being because of putting them in a pseudo- detention country whose history doesn’t support upholding fundamental human rights.
Though the first flight on 14 June was cancelled because of the Court intervention, the government still plans to have new deportation flights to Rwanda. According to the Guardian, some newly arrived asylum seekers in hotels have received letters telling them that their claims are deemed inadmissible for consideration in the UK and cases will be processed in Rwanda despite there being advice from government officials against sending asylum seekers there.
Newcastle City Branch deplores this horrendous stance of the government which would deny the right of asylum seekers to be considered for refugee status in a safe country. Moreover, it would have negative psychological, emotional, and physical impact upon those waiting to be deported to Rwanda. Likewise, their parents, partners, children, and relatives would feel pain and distress which could result in mental health issues.
There is, therefore, an urgent need that the government reverses its policy of deporting some asylum seekers to Rwanda due to their having arrived in the UK via the routes the government considers encourages human trafficking. Conference, therefore, calls on the National Black Members Committee to work with NEC to:
1)Work closely with Public and Commercial Services Union, Care4Calais and Detention Action in their effort to thwart government’s designs of deportation;
2)Work with Labour Link to lobby Parliamentarians to repeal Rwanda Deportation Act;
3)Work with the relevant authorities to introduce a fair system of migration;
4)Create awareness amongst the public against inhuman and harsh treatment against people seeking haven in the UK.