UK Government Sets Date of First Deportation Flight to Rwanda

British Home Secretary Priti Patel and Rwandan minister for foreign affairs and international co-operation, Vincent Biruta, signed a "world-first" migration and economic development partnership in the East African nation's capital city Kigali, on April 14, 2022. Flora Thompson/PA

British Home Secretary Priti Patel said she will “not be deterred” in her plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda as the Home Office announced the date—June 14—for the first flight.

In April Patel unveiled plans to transfer dozens of people whose applications for asylum are awaiting processing to the African country. The policy was criticised by a the opposition Labour party, by a number of charities representing asylum-seekers and even by some Conservative MPs.