JRS: Outsourcing asylum puts lives at risk, must be abandoned

Source: JRS

JRS Europe has issued this statement in reponse to the UK government's decision to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Over the past two years, the UK Government has introduced a series of laws and policies designed to make most people's asylum claims inadmissible and forcibly send those affected to Rwanda. These inhumane plans have been consistently challenged by the Jesuit Refugee Service, along with others upholding the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. However, new legislation passed this week brings the forcible transfer of people to Rwanda a step closer.

Like all outsourcing of asylum, this undermines the very principles of international protection, and the obligation we all share to provide sanctuary to refugees. It puts lives at risk.

These troubling developments in the UK are not occurring in a vacuum. They are part of a trend across Europe to reject the basic tenets of asylum and with them the recognition of our common humanity.

It is vital that these cruel and unworkable proposals are stopped and not allowed to fuel further attempts to externalise asylum or slam shut the doors of Europe. We have a duty of welcome to those who have lost everything and seek safety in Europe. Denying it is not who we are.

I know so many JRS UK supporters will have watched with outrage yesterday, as the Prime Minister announced that people will be forced onto flights to Rwanda within the next ten to twelve weeks.

The JRS UK team writes to supporters:

"This cruel and unprecedented scheme will compound the suffering of women, men and children who have come to the UK in search of safety. It means more people held in detention, lives put at risk, and a complete abandonment of our responsibility to welcome people who have been forced from their homes by violence, poverty, and injustice.

"Pope Francis has told the world that 'refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity' and we won't stop reminding our politicians of that. JRS UK has opposed the Rwanda plan at every stage and with your support we will keep on working to build a society in which refugees are welcomed with dignity.

The Rwanda plan not only threatens people seeking sanctuary in the UK. It also sets a dangerous precedent for more countries to outsource asylum, undermining the very principles of international protection.

We know that a fairer and more humane system is possible. JRS UK will keep on campaigning for it and accompanying refugees every step of the way.

JRS UK will continue to campaign against this cruel piece of legislation."

For more information and to support the work of JRS see: www.jrsuk.net/advocacy/