The UK government’s policy of sending some illegal immigrants to Rwanda appears to have begun to deter people from crossing the English Channel into the UK, but could encourage illegal immigrants to take more dangerous routes, the top civil servant in the Home Office has said.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on April 14 that people who enter the UK illegally, including those who cross the English Channel in small boats, may end up being relocated to the African country of Rwanda. The UK government said the move is necessary to deter human smuggling.
Matthew Rycroft, the department’s permanent secretary told MPs on June 22 that, since the policy was announced, the number of illegal Channel crossings have not been rising as much as the Home Office’s projection for this year….