THE first migrants set to be deported to Rwanda have been detained, with the Home Office releasing a video of the operation in progress.
Shortly before PMQs began the department put out the footage of immigration officers going to asylum seekers' homes and detaining them.
The Home Office said a series of operations took place across the country this week, with more activity due to be carried out in the coming weeks.
Officials have not yet said how many people have been detained, or where they were taken into custody.
On social media, users described the clip as "performative cruelty" and branded it "shameful".
"Why is the Home Office producing a video supporting a government policy other than to boost a political party by influencing voters, the day before an election?" asked one Twitter/X user.
"This is a dark day in our country’s history. This should shame us all," added another.
"Something definitely looks wrong with this, it looks like a criminal gang raid? These people are just seeking asylum, why the heavy handed approach?" another account questioned.
READ MORE: Scottish Government launches new strategy to support refugees
The video comes ahead of the UK Government’s bid to get flights to send migrants to the east African nation off the ground by July, after the Safety of Rwanda Act became law last week.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “Our Rwanda partnership is a pioneering response to the global challenge of illegal migration, and we have worked tirelessly to introduce new, robust legislation to deliver it.
“Our dedicated enforcement teams are working at pace to swiftly detain those who have no right to be here so we can get flights off the ground.
“This is a complex piece of work, but we remain absolutely committed to operationalising the policy, to stop the boats and break the business model of people smuggling gangs.”
Meanwhile there have been reports a failed asylum seeker has become the first to volunteer to be sent to Rwanda after being offered £3000 to do so, prompting criticism.
Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: “Instead of headline-grabbing schemes that will waste time and resources and are unleashing even more human misery, we need a fair and controlled asylum system. The Government must focus on processing asylum claims efficiently and fairly.”
The man, who has not been named, is understood to have accepted the offer under the voluntary scheme some weeks ago and is now in Kigali, with the Sun reporting his flight left on Monday evening.
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