Visit to Italy by the UK Home Secretary to Discuss Strategies to Reduce the Number of Illegal Migrants

Following reports of five deaths among migrants attempting to cross the English Channel, Britain’s Home Secretary James Cleverly said that the government is making every effort to end the risky practice of small boat crossings.

 

In order to speed up collaborative efforts to stop illegal migration from North Africa, Cleverly is in Rome to explore how to do so.

“We can now proceed with our Rwanda plan and begin removing people with no right to be here,” Cleverly added, referring to the crucial pieces of legislation.

Human rights organizations are concerned that the measure may encounter the same kind of legal obstacles it encountered in November, when the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional, despite Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s claims that the first aircraft might depart the UK in 10-12 weeks.

That followed a 2022 decision by the European Court of Human Rights that had previously barred flights to Rwanda.

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has said that it undermines the rule of law, adding to the chorus of voices condemning it.

Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani emphasized the importance of treating refugees and migrants with dignity and respect by evaluating their unique situations and following international human rights and refugee law protocols before removing them from the UK.

Migrants continue their trek to Britain off the coast of northern France in this picture given by the Prefecture Maritime du Nord et de la Manche. The shot was taken on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
Meeting later on Wednesday in Lampedusa, James Cleverly will meet with his Italian colleague Matteo Piantedosi to discuss joint efforts to combat illegal migration.

The government in Tirana authorized the plans in February, after Italy’s announcement last year that it would build third country migrant processing centers in Albania.