Rwanda Act: What We Know So Far
Latest update: 28/05/2024
*Update: This post is available in Indonesian and Vietnamese beneath English.
**Update: The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on 22nd May that a General Election will be held in the UK on 4 July 2024 and that no plans would be made for flights to take off to Rwanda before the election.
Rwanda Act became law on 25th April 2024. It is a new law so there is limited information about its implementation, but this post covers things we know so far. To be noted, conditions might change over time, so keep an eye out on legal updates from relevant and qualified authorities and organisations. Rwanda can only take a very limited number of people, so most people will not be sent there. However the fear is real and widespread.
Who Is Potentially at Risk?
You arrived in the UK without a visa or a passport that does not require a visa to enter the country, and claimed asylum on or after January 2022, AND
Came on a ‘dangerous’ or irregular journey and passed through another country where you could have claimed asylum, AND
Don’t have a family with children under 18 with you.
What May Happen if I’m at Risk?
You will receive a Notice of Intent that you’re considered to be removed to a ‘safe third country’
Then you will receive an “inadmissibility decision” by the Home Office, which meaning the government will not consider your asylum claim
Then you can be put in a removal detention to be sent to Rwanda
Immigration Raids & Detention
Under the Rwanda Act, people who are subjected to removal must first be put in a period of detention before being sent to Rwanda. The Home Office is reported to have started a detention operation on Monday 29 April 2024. What can help in case of detention:
Memorise or write down a list of emergency contacts including NGOs, support groups, legal representatives and friends as your phone can be taken away.
If you are required to report at a Home Office centre, always have someone accompany you.
Don’t sign any legal documents that you don’t understand, but ask for support for interpretation and translation.
Resources
If you’re at risk, find a legal representation asap:
Wilsons LLP legal aid solicitors, 020 8808 7535, rwandareferrals@wilsonllp.co.uk
Duncan Lewis solicitors, 020 7275 2570, toufiqueh@duncanlewis.com
Luke and Bridger law, M.Bridger@lukeandbridger.co.uk and Stuart.Luke@lukeandbridger.co.uk
JCWI: 0207 553 7472 (Mon, Tues, Thurs, 10am – 1pm), info@jcwi.org.uk
Care4Calais Rwanda support: 07519773268 (WhatsApp)
BID: 020 7456 9750 (Mon-Thurs 10am - 12pm), RwandaProject@biduk.org
If you’re detained:
In Brook House or Tinsley IRC, call Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group: 01293657070
In Heathrow IRCs, call Detention Action: 08005872096
In Harmondsworth, Colnbrook or Yarl’s Wood, call SOAS Detainee Support: 07438407570
In any detention centre, call Bail for Immigration Detainees: 02074569750
Undang-Undang Rwanda: Apa yang Kita Ketahui Sejauh Ini
Rancangan Peraturan ‘Rwanda’ telah disahkan menjadi Undang-undang pada tanggal 25 April 2024. Informasi mengenai undang-undang baru ini masih cukup terbatas. Informasi dibawah ini terbatas pada hal yang kami ketahui sejauh ini. Perlu diperhatikan, kondisi dapat berubah seiring berjalannya waktu, jadi pantau terus perkembangan hukum dari otoritas dan organisasi yang relevan dan berkualifikasi. Perlu juga diketahui bahwa tidak semua pencari suaka bisa dikirim ke Rwanda karena negara tersebut hanya dapat menerima jumlah orang yang sangat terbatas. Namun ketakutan ini nyata dan tersebar luas.
Siapa yang Berpotensi Berisiko?
Jika anda tiba di Inggris tanpa visa atau paspor yang tidak memerlukan visa untuk memasuki negara tersebut, dan mengajukan suaka pada atau setelah Januari 2022.
Tiba melalui perjalanan yang 'berbahaya' (irreguler) dan melewati negara lain di mana anda dapat mengajukan permohonan suaka.
Tidak memiliki keluarga dengan anak di bawah 18 tahun bersama Anda.
Apa yang Mungkin Terjadi Jika Saya Berisiko?
Anda mungkin akan menerima Pemberitahuan Niat (Notice of Intent) bahwa Anda akan dipindahkan ke 'negara ketiga yang aman'.
Kemudian Anda akan mendapatkan “keputusan tidak dapat diterimanya” (inadmissibility decision) pengajuan suaka oleh Kementerian Dalam Negeri (Home Office), yang berarti pemerintah tidak akan mempertimbangkan permohonan suaka Anda.
Kemudian Anda bisa dimasukkan ke dalam tahanan deportasi (detention centre) untuk dikirim ke Rwanda
Penggerebekan & Penahanan Imigrasi
Berdasarkan Undang-Undang Rwanda, orang-orang yang akan dipindahkan harus ditahan terlebih dahulu sebelum dikirim ke Rwanda. Kemendagri (Home Office) dikabarkan telah memulai operasi penahanan pada Senin 29 April 2024. Hal yang bisa anda lakukan jika terjadi penahanan:
Hafalkan atau tuliskan daftar kontak darurat termasuk LSM, kelompok pendukung, perwakilan hukum dan teman-teman karena telepon Anda dapat disita.
Jika Anda diminta untuk melapor di pusat Home Office, selalu minta seseorang untuk menemani Anda.
Jangan menandatangani dokumen hukum apa pun yang tidak Anda pahami, tetapi mintalah layanan penerjemahan.
Informasi dan Sumber daya:
Jika Anda berisiko, segera cari perwakilan hukum:
Wilsons LLP legal aid solicitors, 020 8808 7535, rwandareferrals@wilsonllp.co.uk
Duncan Lewis solicitors, 020 7275 2570, toufiqueh@duncanlewis.com
Luke and Bridger law, M.Bridger@lukeandbridger.co.uk and Stuart.Luke@lukeandbridger.co.uk
JCWI: 0207 553 7472 (Mon, Tues, Thurs, 10am – 1pm), info@jcwi.org.uk
Care4Calais Rwanda support: 07519773268 (WhatsApp)
BID: 020 7456 9750 (Mon-Thurs 10am - 12pm), RwandaProject@biduk.org
Jika Anda ditahan:
di Brook House or Tinsley IRC, hubungi Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group: 01293657070
di Heathrow IRCs, hubungi Detention Action: 08005872096
di Harmondsworth, Colnbrook or Yarl’s Wood, hubungi SOAS Detainee Support: 07438407570
Atau di detention centre lainnya, hubungi Bail for Immigration Detainees: 02074569750