UK to Fast-Track Return of Bangladeshi Failed Asylum Seekers

An inflatable craft carrying illegal immigrants crosses the shipping lane in the English Channel off the coast of Dover, England, on Aug. 4, 2022. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The UK and Bangladesh have signed a new agreement to speed up the return of failed asylum seekers, which removes the mandatory interview process where there is “good supporting evidence” for deportation.

The deal will also expedite the returns to Bangladesh of foreign offenders and those who have overstayed their visas, the Home Office confirmed in a statement on Thursday.

Michael Tomlinson, the minister for countering illegal migration, said speeding up removals “is a vital part of our plan to stop people coming or staying here illegally.”

“We have already seen clear evidence that these agreements have a significant impact on illegal migration. Global issues require global solutions and I look forward to working with Bangladesh and other partners to create a fairer system for all,” Mr. Tomlinson added.

The government signed a similar agreement with Albania. The Home Office said in October 2023 the deal has acted as a deterrent to illegal immigration, resulting in the number of Albanians arriving in the UK via small boat falling by over 90 percent.

Last year, 26,000 people with no legal right to be in the UK were returned to their home countries, the Home Office said, an increase of 74 percent on 2022.

Rwanda Scheme Expanded

This returns agreement is the latest immigration measure announced by the government as the Home Office ramps up preparations to send illegal immigrants to Rwanda.

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On Wednesday, the Home Office announced it had agreed an expansion of its agreement with Kigali, meaning that failed asylum seekers will also be removed to the east African country.

Previously, these measures related to those who arrived in the country illegally after Jan. 1, 2022 and whose asylum claims were deemed inadmissible, such as the asylum seekers who arrive illegally in small boats after crossing the English Channel.

Now, those who have had their asylum claims rejected or who had withdrawn their claims and are unable to appeal can be removed to Rwanda.

Failed asylum seekers could volunteer to go to Rwanda and receive support to build a life in the east African country, with the UK performing its first ever removal of that kind at the end of April. Those who do not leave voluntarily “will be in line for detention and enforced removal,” the Home Office said.

The Home Office has stepped up activity to deal with illegal immigration, with detentions commencing ahead of flights taking off for Rwanda. Earlier this month, Operation Vector engaged some 800 immigration enforcement officers and started conducting raids across the country to detain those with no legal right to be in the UK.

The government said it is preparing to start deportations in the next 8 to 10 weeks and is increasing detention capacity, putting an airport on standby, and booking commercial charter planes.

‘Concerted Effort’ to Derail Rwanda Plan

The Rwanda plan has seen challenges in recent weeks. On Monday, the Belfast High Court ruled that provisions of the Illegal Migration Act 2023 should be disapplied in Northern Ireland because they undermine human rights protections set out in post-Brexit arrangements related to the Belfast-Good Friday Agreement, known as the Windsor Framework. Mr. Justice Humphreys also declared other provisions were “incompatible” with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Ministers have said the ruling will have no impact on flights taking off for Rwanda and the government would appeal the decision.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said on Friday that there has been a “concerted effort” to derail the Rwanda plan, but that the government’s legal provisions were “robust.”

Home Secretary James Cleverly arriving in Downing Street for a Cabinet meeting in London on May 14, 2024. (Lucy North/PA)

Mr. Cleverly said: “We’ve recognised that there has been a concerted effort to prevent this policy being deployed through legal challenge.

“And we’ve made sure that the law, the Safety of Rwanda Act, is robust, that it addresses the legal concerns that were highlighted to us.”

He added that Rwanda is a “safe and welcoming country” and that Kigali is “keen to work with us.”

The home secretary reiterated the government’s position that the Rwanda scheme will act as a “deterrent” to illegal immigration.

Provisional figures from the Home Office show that 9,564 people illegally entered the UK via small boats crossing the English Channel so far this year.

PA Media contributed to this report.