MIGRANTS CHOSEN FOR FIRST FLIGHT TO RWANDA

Prime Minister confirms he is ‘still committed’ to deportations timeline

- Michael knowies

 

RISHI Sunak has confirmed he expects the first migrants will be deported to Rwanda this spring and it can be revealed that up to 200 have already been selected.

The PM insisted he is still committed to his timeline despite a long Parliamentary battle over the Rwanda Bill.

Downing Street aides said that officials have "identified the cohort of people" who will be removed to the East African country's capital Kigali. The Daily Express understands this is amounts to 150 to 200 asylum seekers.

Mr Sunak said: "We aim to get a flight off in the spring. It's important that we get the Rwanda scheme up and running because we need to have a deterrent.

"We need to make it clear that if you come here illegally, you won't be able to stay and we will be able to remove you. That is the only way to properly solve the issue of illegal migration. We've made good progress. Boat numbers were down by a third last year. That shows that our plan is working, but in order to finish the job, we need the Rwanda scheme through."

The Express earlier revealed a total of 5,664 asylum seekers were identified as suitable for relocation.

This has been whittled down to the "low three-figures" for the initial flights.

Previous bids to run deportation flights were grounded by challenges in the courts. It is expected around 2,000 migrants will be flown out in the first six months of the plan.

Government planning documents also suggest 5,000 asylum seekers will be sent to Rwanda this year. There is no cap on the migrants the country will take.

Officials are scrambling to finish preparations so the first flights to Kigali can take off soon after the Rwanda Bill gains Royal Assent as is expected. Sources have warned that will take at least six weeks.