People held before planned removal from UK under Sunak government face disruption and relocation after release
A Syrian asylum seeker who was one of 220 people arrested and detained in preparation for forced removal to Rwanda says he has lost everything after his release.
Critics described the high-profile mass roundups before the local elections in May as a “stunt” that needlessly disrupted the lives of many.
The prime minister, Keir Starmer, announced last week the policy was “dead and buried”.
However, in a high court case this week, the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said she would set out her position about the Rwanda legislation and guidance on 1 October.
Mohammed*, 27, arrived in the UK from Syria in July 2022 and was detained in May this year under the Rwanda policy, before being released in June.
“I was arrested and locked up as part of the last government’s attempt to win votes. I had committed no crime. When I was released from detention I had lost my accommodation and all my belongings. I lost everything,” he said.
Those arrested in raids by immigration enforcement teams were seized in haste. Although some were able to return to their previous accommodation after being released from detention, others were moved to areas far from their support networks.
“I was living in a shared house in Hull with other asylum seekers who were very nice,” Mohammed said. “We all ate halal food and there was no drinking or smoking in the house. We kept the place very clean. Now I’ve lost everything. The Home Office moved a new person into my room.
“A charity organised for me to stay with an English woman in a village, which is two bus rides away. She is very nice but I miss my friends and my support network in Hull.”
A second man who was attending college in Newcastle and was due to take exams was moved to Sheffield so has to restart his studies from scratch.
On Monday the Rwandan government issued its first statement acknowledging the prime minister’s intention to scrap the scheme.
It said Rwanda “takes note” of the intention of the UK government to terminate the partnership, adding that the “crisis of irregular migration” was an issue for the UK not Rwanda.
It is not known if Rwanda will repay the £270m handed over by the UK as part of the deal. Under the terms of the agreement the country has no obligation to refund this money.
This year, over 13,000 individuals have crossed the English Channel in small boats, marking a record high. Initially, adverse weather conditions prevented crossings during the early days of the new government. However, on Monday, 65 people crossed in a single boat, followed by 419 individuals in six boats the following Tuesday.
James Wilson, Director of Detention Action, a charity aiding those detained, emphasized the destabilizing impact on asylum seekers who were unlawfully detained, released, and relocated. He stressed the urgent need for the government to process their claims promptly to allow them to rebuild their lives.
Shirley Hart from Welcome House in Hull criticized the previous government’s actions, describing the rounding up and detention of hundreds of asylum seekers for Rwanda as a mere publicity stunt. She highlighted the severe loss of trust among detainees, including one who remains deeply affected by the experience.
Mohammed expressed his anger and sense of injustice at being detained, recounting his experiences of living through war in his home country since the age of 13. He emphasized the loss of dignity and security resulting from the government’s actions.
A spokesperson from the Home Office confirmed that all individuals previously detained with pending removal to Rwanda have now been released on bail.
