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UK aims to send the first group of asylum seekers to Rwanda on June 14
Member of Parliament for Witham. Home Secretary - Priti Patel Twitter account

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has announced that the first deportation flight to Rwanda carrying people who arrived in the country without authorisation is scheduled to leave on 14 June.

Officials have said, a group of asylum seekers has been sent formal notices by the Home Office advising they will be relocated to the east African country.

Officials said that the removal direction letter confirms that someone will be going to Rwanda and when.

There remain few details about the numbers of people expected to be sent to Rwanda in this first flight, and how they have been identified.

Officials said those who will be removed are already in detention, while the government is braced for a flurry of legal challenges over their removal.

A statement from the department said: “The Home Office has begun issuing formal removal direction letters to those who are set to go to Rwanda where they will be able to rebuild their lives in safety."

In a statement, Patel said: “Our world-leading partnership with Rwanda is a key part of our strategy to overhaul the broken asylum system and break the evil people-smugglers’ business model.

First 50 UK asylum seekers to be sent to Rwanda by end of May

“Today’s announcement is another critical step towards delivering that partnership and, while we know attempts will now be made to frustrate the process and delay removals, I will not be deterred and remain fully committed to delivering what the British public expect.”

levantnews-theguardian