Germany Explores Asylum Processing in Rwanda Amid UK’s Abandoned Deportation Plan

Germany is contemplating relocating asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing, following the UK's decision to abandon a similar strategy. Unlike the British approach, the migrants would not be deported to the African country but only sent there for their asylum procedures.

Friday, September 6, 2024, 09:

Germany is contemplating relocating asylum seekers to Rwanda, just weeks after the UK abandoned a similar proposal.

Individuals expelled from Germany might be housed in facilities that were first allocated for a discontinued deportation program in the UK, according to suggestions made by Joachim Stamp, Germany's migration minister.

The German Ambassador to the UK, Miguel Berger, stated that the asylum seekers are to be transferred to an African country solely for processing purposes.

German lawmakers are facing increased scrutiny to address unlawful immigration following a tragic incident in which a Syrian individual killed three people at a festival in Solingen, an act that the Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for.

Moreover, a right-wing extremist party has secured a victory in a German regional election, marking the first occurrence since World War II.

The strategy devised by the previous Conservative leadership in the UK aimed at relocating asylum seekers to Kigali was designed to discourage the journey across the English Channel in makeshift vessels.

Upon taking office in early July, the newly elected Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer immediately abandoned the previously laid out plan.

Mr. Stamp mentioned that Rwanda remains open to further exploring the concept with Germany.

"As of now, Rwanda is the only third country that has stepped forward," he shared on a Table Media podcast.

On X, Mr. Berger emphasized, "To be explicit, the German government has no intentions to expel asylum seekers to Rwanda.

"The conversation centers on handling asylum requests in third-party nations, in accordance with international humanitarian law and backed by the United Nations."

Individuals entering through the eastern frontiers of the EU are the ones most frequently subjected to processing in the African nation.

"Mr. Stamp proposed focusing on this particular group, which comprises around 10,000 individuals annually," he said.

UK Home Office Minister Dame Angela Eagle cautioned Germany on Sky News about adopting the Conservative party's deportation strategy, describing it as "impractical."

She stated, "It was just a publicity stunt. The previous administration used £700 million to persuade only four individuals to relocate to Rwanda voluntarily. Moreover, they were ready to invest billions more… it was clearly ineffective.

"I believe it’s up to the German citizens to make their choice, however, I would caution them that the Rwanda plan was a costly stunt and it's ineffective."

The administration of Rishi Sunak encountered multiple legal obstacles regarding its Rwanda policy, resulting in no flights departing.

Former immigration minister and leading Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick criticized the situation as a "farce," pointing out that Germany could take over where the UK had exited, while accusing Labour of squandering the previously invested funds.

Mr. Jenrick criticized the government for yielding to criminal networks involved in smuggling and vowed to restore the policy if elected. Speaking to Sky News, he said, "The British government had established a program in Rwanda that was respected globally. However, this new Labour government has abolished it rather than fortifying it, which was my intention to make it an effective deterrent."

"Nations such as Germany appear to be more committed to addressing this matter compared to the current Labour government, which seems to favor the idea of open borders in the UK."

Discover more: Interior minister to lead conference on trafficking networks. Twelve fatalities as migrant vessel capsizes in the Channel.

A spokesperson from Downing Street declined to comment on conversations between other countries concerning the German proposal.

"Decisions made by other nations are their own prerogative. Our stance on Rwanda has been clearly established," they noted.

Mr. Stamp mentioned that the United Nations would oversee the asylum processes in Rwanda.

He has also proposed eliminating the "linking factor" in the proposed Common European Asylum System, which mandates that asylum processing be carried out in nations where the asylum seeker possesses social ties.

In December, the European Union reached a consensus on new regulations designed to manage the unexpected influx of migrants and asylum seekers.

However, full implementation might not occur until the close of 2025.

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