NRI Rishi Sunak Stands Firm: UK Won't Accept Asylum
Seekers from Ireland
Los Angeles/May 02, 2024
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/A.Gary Singh
In a recent development, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, affirmed the UK's stance of not accepting the return of asylum seekers from Ireland, reiterating that there exists no legal obligation to do so. This statement comes in response to mounting pressure from the Irish government, which has raised concerns over an increase in asylum seekers arriving in Ireland from Northern Ireland and argues that the UK should take them back.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee of Ireland announced a proactive measure, deploying 100 police officers from desk duties to frontline immigration enforcement, citing a surge in asylum seekers allegedly fleeing Northern Ireland due to apprehensions of being relocated to Rwanda.
During a session of Prime Minister's Questions, Sunak underscored that the UK has no legal mandate to accept the return of illegal migrants from Ireland. Additionally, he urged the Irish government to uphold its commitments to prevent a hard border with Northern Ireland, emphasizing the importance of honoring international agreements without selective adherence.
The UK government's position on repatriating asylum seekers from Ireland is reinforced by its stance on France's refusal to accept returns from the UK, creating a policy coherence in managing migration challenges.
Concerns over the impact on the Good Friday Agreement have been raised, with both governments acknowledging that reinstating security posts along the 310-mile frontier could jeopardize the hard-won peace in Northern Ireland.
In response to Dublin's assertion that a significant majority of asylum seekers enter Ireland from Northern Ireland, Democratic Unionist MP Carla Lockhart challenged the claim, alleging a reversal of the trend. Lockhart also criticized the Irish government for what she termed as "hypocrisy," considering its past assurances regarding the border issue.
Sunak reiterated the UK's commitment to avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, urging collaboration between the two governments to strengthen external borders within the Common Travel Area. However, Downing Street clarified that operational agreements with Ireland under the Common Travel Area do not impose legal obligations for asylum seeker returns.
Labour echoed the UK's position, emphasizing the need for coherence in asylum policies while Britain remains unable to return individuals arriving from the EU.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris affirmed his country's determination not to serve as a migration loophole while assuring that there would be no police checkpoints on the border.
Meanwhile, the UK's implementation of the Safety of Rwanda Act aims to dissuade migrants from attempting Channel crossings by facilitating deportations to Rwanda, with the Home Office initiating detention operations for identified migrants slated for deportation.
As tensions persist over the handling of asylum seekers and border security, both governments face the challenge of balancing migration control with their commitments to peace agreements and international obligations.
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