First wave of asylum seekers held ahead of flights to Rwanda
The Guardian|May 01, 2024
An asylum seeker who turned up for a routine Home Office appointment on Monday was detained and told that he is being sent to Rwanda, a charity has said.
Rajeev Syal ,Severin Carrell
First wave of asylum seekers held ahead of flights to Rwanda

In what is believed to be the first potential deportation case since Rishi Sunak's Rwanda bill received royal assent, the Sudanese man was held in Croydon, south London, the charity Soas Detainee Support (SDS) told the Guardian. The man told charity workers he had arrived to sign in but was informed that will be deported to east Africa.

A government impact assessment released yesterday warned that new changes to guidance will result in more vulnerable and traumatised people being held and deported.

It comes after official figures released on Monday suggested thousands of people the government hoped to deport to Rwanda had stopped reporting to the Home Office.

The Sudanese man is one of three people being held at Lunar House immigration reporting centre in Croydon, according to SDS. Another detainee is Afghan, it said.

A spokesperson for the charity said: "We have been in touch with three asylum seekers who were detained on Monday after attending the Lunar House. All three meet the government's criteria for deportation to Rwanda, although none have received notices of intent yet.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE GUARDIANView all
Carse gives thanks after England return
The Guardian

Carse gives thanks after England return

Brydon Carse has expressed his thanks to the \"incredibly supportive\" England setup after his rapid reintegration following his ban, and hopes to repay the faith shown in him, first in the remaining one-day internationals against Australia and then in the Test series in Pakistan that follows immediately.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 23, 2024
Evenepoel and Brown win races against time once more
The Guardian

Evenepoel and Brown win races against time once more

The double Olympic gold medallist Remco Evenepoel successfully defended the world time trial title he won in last year's World Road Championships in Glasgow, with victory in this year's event in Zurich.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 23, 2024
All or nothing Manchester City should either be vindicated or damned by hearing
The Guardian

All or nothing Manchester City should either be vindicated or damned by hearing

Let's start by going back to December 2016.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 23, 2024
Pylons v property Why disputed power lines may not hit house prices
The Guardian

Pylons v property Why disputed power lines may not hit house prices

The village of Beauly, near Inverness, marks the starting point of what was once Britain's largest and most controversial power grid project: a 137-mile electricity superhighway from the quiet Highlands village to a large substation in Denny near Falkirk.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 23, 2024
Losses from obesity higher than weight loss jab costs
The Guardian

Losses from obesity higher than weight loss jab costs

Rising healthcare costs and productivity losses from the global obesity crisis far outstrip the cost of new weight-loss drugs, according to a report, which also calls on governments to prioritise prevention by promoting a healthy diet.

time-read
1 min  |
September 23, 2024
The Guardian

Diesel and petrol prices fall at fastest rate since December

The price of petrol and diesel in the UK is falling at the fastest pace this year, with households paying about £4 less to fill up a family car than they did a month ago.

time-read
1 min  |
September 23, 2024
The Guardian

Tech firms must help refund victims of fraud, says HSBC

HSBC has thrown its weight behind calls for tech firms to pay up for fraud, saying incoming compensation rules requiring banks to reimburse scam victims up to £85,000 will fail to stem the flow of fraud, and prove that the financial sector is not the problem.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 23, 2024
Succession drama Fox News fate at stake as Murdochs take family shares to court
The Guardian

Succession drama Fox News fate at stake as Murdochs take family shares to court

One family succession battle is gripping the media and dominating water cooler conversations at the New York headquarters of Fox News.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 23, 2024
Leftist Dissanayake wins Sri Lankan presidential election after historic runoff
The Guardian

Leftist Dissanayake wins Sri Lankan presidential election after historic runoff

A Marxist leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has won Sri Lanka's presidential election, in what is being seen as a widespread rejection of the old political elite blamed for the country's continuing economic woes.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 23, 2024
Gaza Seven killed in Israeli airstrike on school shelter
The Guardian

Gaza Seven killed in Israeli airstrike on school shelter

Seven people were killed yesterday after an Israeli airstrike hit a school housing displaced people in western Gaza City, Palestinian health officials said, amid fears that Gaza's worsening humanitarian crisis might be forgotten as tensions boil between Hezbollah and Israel.

time-read
1 min  |
September 23, 2024