On Monday, December 18, protesters gathered in front of the UK home office in London. They criticised the government’s immigration policies, particularly the idea for Rwandan asylum.
In an attempt to discourage people from trying to cross the English Channel in tiny boats, former prime minister Boris Johnson announced the relocation initiative in April 2022. The initiative’s goal is to process and maybe resettle asylum seekers in Rwanda. Under this arrangement, no asylum seekers have been deported from the UK, despite numerous delays caused by legal challenges.
Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was among the speakers who took to the rostrum.
By a vote of 313-269 on December 12, the UK House of Commons approved the government’s Rwanda bill in principle and sent it for additional review.The measure aimed to overturn the U.K. Supreme Court’s decision that the plan to transfer migrants who arrive in Britain by sea across the English Channel to Rwanda, where they would settle permanently, is unlawful.
The bill is the outcome of a new agreement that Rwanda and the UK inked on December 5.
Migrants Day
Protest “Stop the hate” which took on Migrants Day was organised by various groups including Stand Up to Racism and Care4Calais.
Namibian activist Florence Handura who immigrated to the U.K recounted why she fled her coutry:
“I was stabbed with a knife (in Namibia -ed). At another point again, I was also beaten up. Because I’m an activist in Namibia, I used to stand up for my people under the Ovaherero Genocide Foundation.”
“I felt it was not safe. I came here and I claimed reparation. But the British government feel that is not reason enough for me to be here, I have to go back, there is no harm which is going to happen to me – which is not true.”
The UK government has tightened legal migration regulations for family and work visas in 2024 in addition to attempting to decrease unlawful migration.
The head of the International Organization for Migration (OIM), Amy Pope, spoke from Geneva early in October and emphasized the data showing that migration may stimulate economies by bringing in fresh ideas or workers who are required.
“Our number one goal is to really harness the benefits and the promise of migration, and it’s my belief that when we work together with communities, when we work together with governments, we can start to build out ways to find opportunities for people who are on the move rather than just treating the issue as a problem to be solved,” Pope advised.
“The evidence is fairly overwhelming that migration actually benefits economies,” she added.
Pope said that individuals who migrate do so in search of employment, and that the benefits of migration could be realized provided “regular realistic pathways” were established and a thorough strategy was implemented.
The UK Home Office reports that, with 216,450 awards, “worker” visas—formerly known as “skilled work” visas—accounted for two-thirds (67%) of all work-related visas issued in the year ending in June 2022.