Deportation from the UK

Rwanda pact: migrants move to Ireland

(Bild: APA/AP)

The British government's controversial asylum pact with the East African state of Rwanda is already having an impact - much to the annoyance of Ireland. According to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, migrants are increasingly moving there.

Asylum seekers are "seeking refuge here and within the EU" in order to avoid deportation to Rwanda, Irish Foreign Minister Micheàl Martin told the British newspaper "Daily Telegraph" on Friday. Around 80 percent of migrants come to Ireland via the British province of Northern Ireland, Martin said. Following Brexit, the UK and the EU had agreed to leave this border open in order to avoid new conflicts in the former civil war region.

The British prime minister wants to stop the boats, but they are simply diverting to Ireland.(Bild: AFP)

Social tensions in Ireland have recently increased due to rising immigration. Between May 2022 and April 2023, more than 140,000 people arrived in Ireland, the highest number in 16 years. Right-wing forces claim that migration is exacerbating the acute housing crisis. Local protests are recurring.

Rwanda declared a safe third country
On Tuesday night, the British parliament passed a law declaring Rwanda a safe third country. This allows the Conservative government in London to deport illegal asylum seekers to the East African country. They are to apply for asylum there; there is no provision for them to return to the UK.