Ireland Seeks to Return Asylum Seekers to UK Amid Concerns Over Rwanda Policy

Ireland is seeking to introduce emergency legislation that would enable the return of asylum seekers to the UK, as over 80% of recent arrivals in Ireland have come from the UK across the Irish border. This move comes amid concerns over the UK's controversial Rwanda policy, which the Irish government says is driving migrants to cross the border into Ireland out of fear of being deported to Rwanda.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has asked the Minister for Justice to bring proposals to Cabinet to amend existing law regarding the designation of safe third countries and allowing the return of inadmissible international protection applicants to the UK under new emergency laws. The Irish government is focused on strengthening its immigration system and ensuring its integrity, with the Minister for Justice set to discuss a new returns policy with the British government.

Why this matters: The influx of asylum seekers from the UK into Ireland highlights the broader impact of the UK's Rwanda policy on neighboring countries. It underscores the need for cooperation between the UK and Ireland in addressing shared challenges in the common travel area.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has claimed that the Rwanda scheme is already having a deterrent effect, stating that "people are worried about coming to the UK illegally." However, Irish Tánaiste Micheál Martin has disputed this, saying that the UK's asylum policy is driving migrants across the border into Ireland.

The UK's Rwanda bill has cleared its final parliamentary hurdle, and Sunak hopes it will prevent asylum seekers from attempting to enter the UK illegally by crossing the English Channel on small boats. Immigration is expected to be a key issue in the upcoming UK general election, with Sunak's Conservative party currently trailing in the polls.

Ireland has welcomed over 100,000 refugees in recent years, with the majority coming from Ukraine. This has led to broader societal tensions and anti-immigrant sentiment in the country, fueled by an acute housing crisis. There have been protests and arson attacks on proposed refugee accommodation centers in Ireland, raising concerns about far-right agitation and threats against politicians.

The Irish government's move to introduce emergency legislation to return asylum seekers to the UK comes as it seeks to address the surge in arrivals from across the border. Minister for Justice Helen McEntee is set to travel to London on Monday to discuss the returns policy with members of Rishi Sunak's government, as Ireland looks to strengthen its migration system and work in partnership with the UK to tackle the shared challenges in the common travel area.

Key Takeaways

• Ireland plans to introduce emergency law to return asylum seekers to UK
• Over 80% of recent arrivals in Ireland came from UK across Irish border
• Ireland cites UK's Rwanda policy as driving migrants to cross into Ireland
• UK's Rwanda scheme aims to deter illegal Channel crossings, but Ireland disputes this
• Ireland faces housing crisis and anti-immigrant sentiment amid refugee influx