An Interior Minister has told Sky News that they are ashamed to work for the government because of their plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.
We were told that there is “disbelief” in his department’s policy, comparing it to a form of human trafficking.
The worker – who we have agreed to give anonymity to – has been in the asylum department for a few years and spoke to us exclusively a few days before the departure of the first flight.
We were told, “We should offer a sanctuary and provide safe haven for those who need it, but we seem to be involved in human trafficking: transporting people against their will and paying another country to take them.” the.
Rwanda’s policy is “shameful”
“I think this policy is shameful to be honest. Since the Windrush scandal, we have had to make ethical decisions in policy making and create a less hostile environment.
“Not only will it create more harm to these people, but internally to the department; despite concerns about it, we are told it is our duty as officials to implement the policy regardless of our concerns around it.”
The Home Office worker also told us that the internal staff has expressed concerns with the Home Secretary of the Home Office about how the policy will be implemented; if it is legal; and the impact on families, children and LGBTQ asylum seekers.
They said: “Most of the staff working for the Home Office are trying to do a job that means the UK is providing security to refugees around the world; we are involved in trying to improve people’s lives.
“But we feel compelled to implement a policy that is the opposite and most staff do not agree with this and we fear that it will endanger people’s lives instead of properly welcoming people into the UK.” .
Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
The interview comes as activists formally launched their judicial candidacy to halt the government’s controversial plans.
The Union of Public and Commercial Services (PCS), Care4Calais and Detention Action have issued judicial review proceedings in the High Court, challenging what they describe as an “illegal policy” by Home Secretary Priti Patel. to expel asylum seekers to the East African nation.
However, a number of asylum seekers have now received notifications that they will be the first to go to Rwanda on 14 June.
Sky News has spoken with an Iranian who is among those who have been told they will be put on next week’s flight to Rwanda.
The man – referred to as Bahram – is in a detention center near Gatwick Airport.
“I can’t even think about going to Rwanda”
He says he was a police commander in Iran but fled the country after refusing to use firearms in demonstrations in 2019.
Bahram, who is in his forties, told us that he would rather return to Iran, where he believes he will be killed than sent to Rwanda.
Bahram, who testified before an international court over Iran, says he was tortured and imprisoned in his home country before paying smugglers $ 13,000 to take him to the UK.
Bahram has been sent a withdrawal notice telling him that he is on a direct flight from Kigali Airport to Rwanda on June 14th.
Use the Chrome browser to get a more accessible video player
2:56 Rwandan plan causes asylum seekers to “panic”
He said that he has a 25-kilo baggage allowance, but that he will have to deal with the excess baggage.
He refused to sign the form.
“My security in Rwanda cannot be guaranteed”
Speaking through an interpreter at the detention center, he said: “It’s so terrible that I can’t even define it. The whole situation. I can’t even think about it (going to Rwanda).”
I ask him if this is because he is afraid.
“Certainly,” he says, explaining that he is afraid of an uncertain future and what will happen to his wife and children and what will happen in the future.
“I have no connection to Rwanda. My security in Rwanda cannot be guaranteed. I would rather return to Iran; I know it is a safe death for me in Iran, but I would rather go to Rwanda,” he said.
When asked what his message is to the British government, he said: “I think that either this government accepts asylum seekers, then they should allow them to prove their case or they should say no. we will accept asylum seekers under any conditions. “
An Interior Ministry spokesman told us that the Interior Ministry is engaged in constructive and open talks with staff on its policies and said: “Our world leading partnership with Rwanda is a key part of the our strategy to review the broken asylum system and break the evil people.-Smugglers’ business model.
“We have now given formal instructions to the first group of people to be relocated to Rwanda, where those recognized as refugees or otherwise eligible to settle will have the opportunity to rebuild their lives.
“This marks a critical step towards the implementation of the policy and we remain fully committed to working with Rwanda to provide security to asylum seekers and ultimately save lives.”