Sunak: Rwanda Plan Deterring Asylum Seekers to Ireland, Deputy PM Says
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak believes the UK's Rwanda asylum plan is effective based on an increase in asylum seekers heading to Ireland and Irish Deputy Prime Minister Micheál Martin's statement that the threat of deportation to Rwanda has led some to cross the border from Northern Ireland.
Sunak views this as evidence of the global challenge of illegal migration and the need for third-country partnerships to address the issue.
The Rwanda asylum plan, which was signed into law on Thursday, aims to deter asylum seekers from coming to the UK by threatening deportation to Rwanda.
Rwanda is pushing for the UK to allow the prosecution of five men suspected of genocide in the UK, in exchange for a deal.
The men are wanted for their alleged involvement in the 1994 genocide in which over 800,000 Tutsis were killed.
They are currently under investigation by Scotland Yard's war crimes unit, but Rwanda's extradition request was previously blocked by a high court ruling.
Johnston Busingye, Rwanda's high commissioner, has urged Britain to extradite or facilitate trial proceedings against the suspects.
The UK government has not yet responded to Rwanda's request.
The text suggests that the threat of withholding the deal may be having an impact on the UK's decision-making process.