Home Office Loses Contact with Over Half of Intended Rwanda Deportees: Minister Unconcerned
The Home Office is having difficulty keeping in touch with thousands of asylum seekers they intend to deport to Rwanda, according to a UK government minister.
Out of the 5,700 individuals identified for removal, only 2,145 are still reporting to the Home Office and can be located for detention, making contact with just 38% of their intended deportees.
The minister nonchalantly commented that the Home Office is "used to" such occurrences.
Rishi Sunak, the UK's chancellor, has announced a plan to locate and remove individuals who have gone missing from official contacts by the end of the year.
The scheme, which is expected to be implemented by July, has been met with strong criticism from human rights groups.
Victoria Atkins, the health secretary, has stated that law enforcement will be involved in the operation and that those who fail to report as required will be found and removed using various measures.
The shadow immigration minister, Stephen Kinnock, criticized the Conservative Party's handling of the asylum system and their Rwanda policy after it was revealed that several individuals intended for removal to Rwanda were missing.
Kinnock expressed concern over the lack of control the Conservatives have over the asylum system and the chaos surrounding their Rwanda policy.
The prime minister had previously promised to detain and remove all asylum seekers who crossed the Channel, but now many of those intended for removal cannot be located.