Daily Express | by Christian Calgie | April 28, 2024
Source: Ireland announces plans to return illegal migrants flooding in from Britain | Politics | News | Express.co.uk
theNational.buzz Summary:
- Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris urges changes to the law to enable the return of illegal migrants from Britain amid concerns about asylum seekers trying to claim asylum in Ireland to avoid deportation to Rwanda.
- More than 80 percent of recent asylum seekers in Ireland have crossed the border from the UK, prompting discussions between Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee and the UK Government on a returns policy.
- UK officials suggest that Ireland’s concerns indicate the success of their immigration policies, while Rishi Sunak asserts that the deterrent effect of deportation to Rwanda is already evident.
The Irish Prime Minister has demanded to be allowed to return illegal migrants who have headed over the border from Britain.
Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris has asked his Justice Minister to change the law regarding the designation of safe third countries, that would allow the return of inadmissible asylum seekers coming from the UK.
The move comes after it emerged illegal immigrants from Britain are now trying to claim asylum in Ireland, due to fears they could be deported to Rwanda.
Figures show that in the year leading up to April 2023, Ireland saw a 16-year-high arrivals rate, with more than 140,000 immigrants applying.
More than 80 percent of recent asylum seekers have crossed the border into Ireland from the UK.
Ireland’s justice minister Helen McEntee will now travel to London on Monday for discussions with the UK Government about a returns policy.
On Thursday Mr Martin said that Britain’s hardline immigration policy is already “impacting on Ireland” as migrants as “fearful” of staying in the UK.
He added: “Maybe that’s the impact it was designed to have”.
However Tory MP Marco Longhi suggested that the comments by Ireland’s deputy PM are a major victory for the UK Government.
Mr Longhi, a Red Wall MP who serves on the Home Affairs Select Committee, said: “The fact that asylum seekers are now starting to go elsewhere is clear evidence that the deterrent effect is taking place”.
Yesterday a No. 10 spokesman said it’s “too early to jump to specific conclusions about the impact of the Act and treaty in terms of migrant behaviour”.
However speaking to Sky News this morning, Rishi Sunak told Sky News that Ireland’s concerns show that the Rwanda deterrent is “already having an impact”.
