Priti Patel’s cruel new bill aims to send asylum seekers to processing centres in Africa
Priti Patel is set to propose another controversial bill—she’s back at it again—as news leaks about her plans to send asylum seekers to processing centres abroad. Rwanda, Africa being a suspected location of choice. According to an exclusive report from The Times, Patel is set to introduce laws, as early as next week, that would enable the UK government to send asylum seekers to an ‘African hub’ shared with Denmark.
The report suggests that talks have been held by both countries on a potentially shared hub. So far, the Home Office has denied these claims. The Nationality and Borders Bill is however set to follow in Denmark’s footsteps—whose government passed a similar bill just last month. The UK’s Home Office has also reportedly studied Australia’s policy in a bid to replicate its methods, which include redirecting asylum seekers travelling by sea to offshore immigration centres in neighbouring states like Papua New Guinea. The plan has ignited fury as many call Patel’s methods, rightfully, “disgusting.”
The bill will be introduced to the House of Commons next week, with the Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds stating that the plans are “unconscionable” and would be opposed by Labour. Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster group leader, tweeted, “If Priti Patel wants to send asylum seekers to Rwanda she will have a fight on her hands. Not in our name. We treat people with respect and dignity. This is inhumane in the extreme. Where is our humanity?”
If @pritipatel wants to send asylum seekers to Rwanda she will have a fight on her hands. Not in our name. We treat people with respect and dignity. This is inhumane in the extreme. Where is our humanity. This Tory Govt is prepared to engage in morally reprehensible behaviour. https://t.co/eUshmWegyW
— Ian Blackford (@blackfordian1) June 27, 2021
Writer and activist Femi had this to say, “Priti Patel says we’re going to start sending scared and desperate refugees to offshore camps where they’ll be outside the reach of the UK’s human rights protections. No. Just no. This doesn’t happen.”
Here's a quick reminder of when Priti Patel first discussed her plans to put asylum seekers in camps outside UK jurisdiction.
— Femi (@Femi_Sorry) June 28, 2021
"Rwanda"
pic.twitter.com/AYYwHMUb6N
Her moves have even been compared to that of the AfD party—a German alt-right party that heavily pushes for asylum centres in the North Africa region. Wolfgang Blau took to Twitter to say that “it needs to be noted that […] the UK’s Home Secretary Priti Patel is politically congruent with Germany’s far-right AfD party.”
“This Tory Govt is prepared to engage in morally reprehensible behaviour,” Blackford continued. Are we even shocked? This bill follows a long line of anti-immigrant, anti-black and anti-refugee policies set by the Tories—with Patel’s bills being labelled particularly inhumane. The Home Office was rightfully criticised for its new immigration rule, which began 1 January 2021, and would seek to deport rough sleepers who are non-UK nationals as well as for its points-based immigration system announced last year.
Not only is this a cruel reminder of this country’s treatment of asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants in general, it also reminds us of the West’s continuing colonial power in enforcing itself and its problems onto other countries. In all the discussion, does Rwanda get a say in this? I mean, that hasn’t even been spoken about. Treating people like the plastic you dump on other countries is another new low for the UK.
