The Home Secretary has hailed the strengthening of the
world-first Migration Partnership with Rwanda as both countries
vow to step up efforts to tackle global migration
challenges.
Under the innovative Migration and Economic Development
Partnership, people who make dangerous, unnecessary and illegal
journeys to the UK, such as by small boat, will be relocated to
Rwanda, where they will be supported to rebuild their lives.
travelled to Kigali for
official engagements with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and
Rwandan Minister for Foreign Affairs and International
Co-operation, Dr Vincent Biruta, this weekend (March 18 and
19).
Today (18 March), the Home Secretary and Dr Biruta reiterated
their desire to deliver the Partnership, amid a global migration
crisis that has seen 100 million people displaced and people
smugglers cashing in on human misery.
They outlined the global leaders’ commitment to working on bold
and innovative migration policies to redress the balance between
legal and uncontrolled migration. The Government of Rwanda
reiterated the country’s readiness to receive thousands of
individuals, process their claims and house them before they are
moved to longer-term accommodation, with necessary support
services including health and education provisions.
In addition, the Home Secretary and Dr Biruta signed an update to
the Memorandum of Understanding, expanding the Partnership
further to all categories of people who pass through safe
countries and make illegal and dangerous journeys to the UK.
This will have the added benefit of preparing the UK to
deliver on the measures proposed in the Illegal Migration Bill,
as it will mean that anyone who comes to the UK illegally – who
cannot be returned to their home country – will be in scope to be
relocated to Rwanda.
The new Bill, which was introduced to Parliament last week, will
see people who come to the UK illegally face detention and be
returned to their home country, or a safe third country such as
Rwanda.
The scheme is uncapped and the Government of Rwanda have
confirmed they are able to take thousands of people eligible
for relocation.
In December, the UK Government secured an important victory in
the High Court on the legality of the Partnership and will
continue to defend the policy against ongoing legal challenge,
while working with Rwanda to ensure flights can operate as soon
as there are no legal barriers.
Home Secretary
said:
“We cannot continue to see people risking their lives crossing
the Channel, which is why I am pleased to strengthen our
agreement even further with the Government of Rwanda so we can
address the global migration crisis head on.
“The Migration and Economic Development Partnership is key to
breaking the business model of people smugglers while ensuring
those who genuinely need protection can be helped to rebuild
their lives.
“Rwanda is a progressive, rapidly growing economy at the
forefront of innovation – I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing
first-hand the rich opportunities this country can provide to
relocated people through our Partnership.”
Minister of Foreign Affairs Vincent Biruta said:
“If we are to successfully tackle the global
migration crisis, we need innovative, urgent action. This
Partnership addresses the opportunity gap at the heart of the
migration crisis, by investing in Rwanda’s capability to continue
offering migrants the opportunity to build new lives in a safe,
secure place, through accommodation, education, and vocational
training.
“For these reasons, we are pleased to once again renew our
commitment to our ground-breaking Partnership with the UK, which
shares our determination to solve this crisis.”
On the visit, the Home Secretary will spend time meeting
refugees, who have been supported by the Government of Rwanda to
rebuild their lives. She will also see new housing developments,
which will be used to relocate people.
She also visited new modern, long-term accommodation that will
support those who are relocated to settle in Rwanda.
The Home Secretary also met with investment start-ups and
entrepreneurs to discuss the range of business and employment
opportunities available to people in Rwanda.
The Partnership with Rwanda is just one strand of the work
the Government is doing to tackle illegal migration. Last week
the Prime Minister agreed a package with France which will see a
new detention centre established in France as well as the
deployment of more French personnel and enhanced technology to
patrol beaches.
