Keir Starmer Condemns UK Plan to Deport Rwandan Migrants Labour leader Keir Starmer has criticized the UK government’s plan to deport migrants who arrive illegally in the country to Rwanda, calling it “barbaric.” The plan, unveiled by Home Secretary Priti Patel, would see asylum seekers who enter the UK illegally sent to Rwanda to have their claims processed. If successful, they would be granted asylum in Rwanda, but not in the UK. Starmer has vehemently opposed the policy, describing it as “unworkable, unethical and expensive.” He argued that it would not deter people from seeking asylum in the UK, but instead expose them to greater risk. “This is a barbaric plan that will do nothing to address the issue of illegal immigration,” Starmer said. “It will only lead to more suffering and hardship for some of the most vulnerable people in the world.” The Labour leader pointed to the high costs associated with the plan, estimated to be around £1.4 billion ($1.7 billion) over the next five years. He also questioned the legality of sending asylum seekers to a country where their human rights may be violated. “The government needs to focus on working with other countries to find safe and legal routes for asylum seekers to come to the UK,” Starmer said. “This plan is a distraction from the real issues and will only make the situation worse.” The UK government has defended the plan, arguing that it is necessary to deter illegal immigration and break the business model of people smugglers. Critics, however, have accused the government of scapegoating asylum seekers for political gain. The plan has been met with widespread condemnation from human rights groups, charities, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The UNHCR has warned that the policy “risks causing irreparable damage to the international refugee protection regime.”UK Prime Minister Ends Rwanda Deportation PolicyUK Prime Minister Ends Rwanda Deportation Policy Incoming British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced the termination of the previous Conservative government’s controversial policy of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda. The Rwanda plan, which was declared unlawful by the UK Supreme Court, was described by Starmer as “dead and buried” and “never a deterrent.” He emphasized the policy’s ineffectiveness in preventing people from seeking asylum in the UK. Human rights activists had criticized the plan as inhumane and raised concerns about Rwanda’s own human rights record. Asylum seekers feared being sent back to countries where they faced danger. Despite opposition, then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had vowed to implement the plan, claiming it would deter migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats. Starmer, however, stated that the Rwanda plan was widely expected to fail because the chances of asylum seekers being sent to Rwanda were slim. He added that the plan had incentivized people-smuggling gangs rather than acting as a deterrent. The move to scrap the Rwanda policy fulfills a campaign promise by the Labour Party. Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, welcomed the decision, calling for the UK to focus on providing safety and certainty to refugees. While the termination of the Rwanda plan is a significant shift, it remains unclear how Starmer’s government will address the ongoing migration crisis. Record numbers of people have arrived in the UK via small boats in recent months. Professor Tim Bale of Queen Mary University of London noted the need for alternative solutions to tackle the issue of small boats crossing the English Channel. Meanwhile, the exact nature of Starmer’s Labour government remains to be seen. However, he has pledged to prioritize national interests and end the turmoil of Conservative rule.