British Home Secretary James Cleverly visited Italy to discuss the UK’s migrant deportation deal with Rwanda, which was recently approved by the UK Parliament. The deal involves paying Rwanda to process migrants who enter Britain illegally, with the aim of deterring people from crossing the English Channel from France. This approach has been criticized by human rights groups and the UN refugee agency for violating international refugee conventions.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees stated that the UK-Rwanda deal undermines global solidarity and the established international refugee protection system, making it incompatible with international refugee law. Cleverly defended the deal as a necessary response to the evolving challenge of mass migration and people smuggling, emphasizing the need for innovation in addressing these issues. He acknowledged the criticism from the UNHCR but maintained that Britain is a law-abiding country that respects international institutions.
During his visit to Italy, Cleverly also visited the Italian coast guard headquarters and planned to visit the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, a major arrival point for migrants crossing the Mediterranean from northern Africa. Italy saw a significant decrease in migrant arrivals in 2022 compared to the previous year, thanks in part to agreements with Tunisia to stem departures. Spain has surpassed Italy in terms of migrant sea arrivals so far this year, with the UK also experiencing lower numbers of arrivals compared to southern Mediterranean countries.
The migrant deportation deal with Rwanda is part of a broader trend in European countries, including Italy, to outsource the processing of asylum-seekers to other countries as a way to manage migration flows. These agreements have faced criticism for potentially violating the rights of migrants and undermining international refugee protection systems. Cleverly’s visit to Italy highlighted the complexities of the migration issue and the need for creative solutions to address the challenges posed by people smuggling and mass migration.
Despite the controversy surrounding the UK-Rwanda deal, Cleverly emphasized the importance of tackling the root causes of mass migration and preventing people smugglers from exploiting vulnerable populations. He acknowledged the UNHCR’s concerns and expressed a commitment to respecting international refugee law while pursuing innovative approaches to address the evolving nature of migration patterns. The visit to Italy underscored the ongoing debate over migration policies in Europe and the need for international cooperation to effectively manage migration flows while upholding human rights and refugee protections.
