UK LATEST UPDATES: The deportation flight is now scheduled for Asia
A flight originally intended to transport migrants to Rwanda has been used to deport foreign criminals and immigration offenders.The deportation flight is now scheduled for Asia
It comes after Labour, within hours of assuming office, abandoned the previous government’s plan for Rwanda, which called for the transfer of some asylum seekers to the east African nation. It was called a “gimmick” and a financial waste by ministers.
Nevertheless, 46 criminals and immigration offenders have now been returned to Vietnam and East Timor by the Home Office using a jet designated for the operation.
This is the first flight to return illegal migrants to East Timor and Vietnam since 2022.
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Vietnam accounted for the largest percentage of reported small boat entries to the UK between January and March of this year, accounting for nearly one in five of all nationalities.
It’s understood that the aircraft carried criminals found guilty of a variety of offences in addition to individuals who had overstayed their visas or entered the country without authorisation.
“Today’s flight shows the Government is taking quick and decisive action to secure our borders and return those who have no right to be here,” said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
“Without the cooperation of the governments of Vietnam and Timor-Leste [East Timor], this would not have been possible.
“We are more committed than ever to re-establishing order in the immigration and asylum systems, combating irregular migration, and ensuring that the law is appropriately upheld and enforced,” the statement reads.
The asylum agreement with Rwanda, Ms. Cooper said the Commons, had cost Britain £700 million, and its termination would “immediately” save the £750 million set aside for the policy this year.
With the money saved, a new Border Security Command will be established to command hundreds of more officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA), MI5, and Border Force. These officers would be stationed around Europe to assist in taking down people-smuggling organisations.
According to Ms. Cooper, employees of the Home Office were also transferred from working on the program to concentrate on immigration enforcement and returns.
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