Priti Patel ’s first asylum flight to Rwanda could go ahead by Christmas – leaving refugees terrified, campaigners warned today.
Care4Calais boss Clare Moseley is among those challenging the controversial £120million Home Office scheme in the High Court on Monday.
But Ms Moseley fears a court defeat could see Home Secretary Ms Patel’s flights to Africa begin in weeks.
She said: “With the political will to push this through, it could mean that appeals happen unusually quickly. We believe law is on our side and the evidence is unequivocal.
“But in this political climate, who knows? There are people who are really terrified.”
There are fears for the mental health of asylum seekers who could be sent away. Many have fled conflict and may be victims of trafficking or torture. Ms Moseley said their fears were evident in June, during legal challenges over the plan to send asylum seekers to Africa.
She added: “We spoke to people who tried to kill themselves, people on hunger strikes, people whose families were begging us ‘please don’t let my son or father be sent to Rwanda’. It was horrific. I cannot contemplate even one person being put at risk of being tortured and killed. Not even one person is an acceptable loss in this battle.”
C4C has learned that in the past fortnight the Home Office issued notices of intent to dispatch at least 14 new arrivals who crossed the Channel. Dozens more notices are feared to have been issued. Several asylum seekers, the Public and Commercial Services Union and charities Detention Action and Asylum Aid are bringing legal challenges this month and next. Ms Patel said yesterday the Government will “vigorously” defend the plan.
She added: “Rwanda remains a safe country with a strong record of supporting asylum seekers. The sooner we can deliver this new policy, the sooner we can break the business model of evil people smugglers and prevent further loss of life in the Channel.”
UK rallies against the scheme will be held tomorrow. Opponents are said to include Prince Charles, who reportedly called it “appalling”.
- Charles turned his focus to Rwanda again today – by video link for Kwita Izina, the annual gorilla-naming ceremony. The prince named a baby male Ubwuzuzanye – meaning harmony.
