First group of migrants to be told this week they could be deported to Rwanda

First flights to east African nation are expected to take place in coming months

Home secretary Priti Patel and Rwandan minister Vincent Biruta (Flora Thompson/PA)

The first group of migrants will this week be informed of plans to deport them to Rwanda, the Home Office has confirmed.

The UK government’s controversial new policy will see asylum seekers – who arrived via illegal routes from January this year – be sent to the east African nation while their immigration applications are processed.

First flights are expected to take place in the coming months, the Home Office said on Monday night, adding that the government “has the power to detain individuals pending their removal from the UK”.

Lawyers for some of those affected will almost certainly lodge claims to stop their removal – there are a number of legal challenges brought by charities that are protesting against the move.

If the migrants’ applications are approved, they will be granted asylum or given refugee status in the UK.

Those with failed applications will be offered the chance to apply for visas under other immigration routes if they wish to remain in Rwanda – but could still face deportation to their country of origin.

Tens of thousands of people could end up being sent to Rwanda while they await news of their future, Boris Johnson has said.

When the plan was announced last month, Priti Patel – who visited Rwanda to strike the deal with the country’s foreign minister Vincent Biruta – hailed it as a “world first” agreement.

The home secretary has also said: “Britain’s asylum system is broken as criminals exploit and smuggle people into our country at huge costs to UK taxpayers.

“The world-leading migration partnership with Rwanda means those making dangerous, unnecessary and illegal journeys to the UK may be relocated to Rwanda to have their claims for asylum considered and to rebuild their lives there, helping break the people smugglers’ business model and prevent loss of life.

“This is just the first stage of the process and we know it will take time as some will seek to frustrate the process and delay removals.

“I will not be deterred from acting to deliver on the changes the British people voted for to take back control of our money, laws and borders.”

This year so far, at least 7,739 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel, according to an analysis of government figures by the PA news agency. The number is more than triple that of the same period in 2021 (2,439).