‘I can feel your pain,’ one protestor cried.
Human rights activists chanted “no Rwanda” as they gathered outside an immigration removal centre on Sunday afternoon.
Scores of demonstrators shook the outer fence of the Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, close to Gatwick Airport, near Crawley, West Sussex.
Detainees inside could be heard shouting “help us” and “no Rwanda” in unison with the assembled protestors.
“I can feel your pain,” one protestor cried.
“We know that you’re trapped in there, we are here to help you and fight for you – you have to be strong.”
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Hundreds of protestors had assembled in opposition to Government plans to start deporting migrants to the east African country from Tuesday.
Amongst the crowd were doctors, vicars and charities.
“The Home Office are human traffickers,” read one sign. “If fleeing danger is illegal, the law is wrong,” read another.
On Sunday morning, Rwanda’s lead negotiator for the deportation agreement confirmed that refugees sent to the east African country by the Home office would not be eligible for a UK visa.
“This is not an offshore processing mechanism,” she told LBC Radio. “They are being sent for relocation into Rwandan society”
She said the country is ready to accept “tens of thousands” of people, but will start on a gradual basis.
The first deportation flight to east Africa has been scheduled for this week, departing at this Tuesday from Stansted airport and arriving in Kigali the following morning.
Three further flights have been identified by charities, all scheduled for departure in the next few weeks.
Around 31 people have been told they could be on that flight on Tuesday, with more planes scheduled to take place later this year.
It comes after the High Court ruled on Friday that the first flight to take asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda could go ahead.
The Prince of Wales has been caught up in the row after it was reported he described the policy “appalling”.
Campaigners will take their fight against the government’s policy to send asylum seekers to Rwanda to the Court of Appeal on Monday.
Related Links
- EXCL: UK’s first Rwanda deportation flight confirmed for Tuesday evening
- Prince Charles brands Rwanda deportation scheme ‘appalling’
- First migrants to be sent to Rwanda in a fortnight, say Home Office
