UK government will not take back asylum seekers

 

The UK government has refused to take back asylum seekers who have crossed into Ireland, sparking tensions between the two countries. Ireland's deputy leader, Micheal Martin, is set to discuss the issue with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, but the UK government has made it clear that it will not accept any asylum returns from the EU via Ireland until the EU agrees to take back migrants who have crossed the Channel from France.

The Irish government has announced emergency laws to return a rising number of asylum seekers crossing from Northern Ireland, with 80% of recent arrivals coming from the UK via the land border. However, the UK government has stated that it will not take back any asylum seekers, citing the need for EU-wide asylum rules to be changed.

The issue has been exacerbated by the UK's Rwanda asylum policy, which became law last week. The policy aims to deter migrants from crossing the Channel by sending them to Rwanda to claim asylum. However, Ireland has said it will not allow its country to be used as a "loophole" for the UK's migration challenges.

The Irish government has announced plans to publish emergency legislation on Tuesday to enable asylum seekers to be sent back to the UK. However, the UK government has made it clear that it will not accept any returns until the EU agrees to take back migrants who have crossed the Channel from France.

The situation has sparked a row between the two countries, with the Irish government accusing the UK of trying to shift the burden of its migration policy onto Ireland. The UK government has argued that the Rwanda policy is already working as a deterrent, with a significant increase in asylum seekers crossing into Ireland from Northern Ireland.

The issue has also raised concerns about the impact on the Good Friday Agreement, which established the Intergovernmental Conference to promote cooperation between the UK and Irish governments. The conference is set to meet on Monday, co-chaired by Chris Heaton-Harris and Micheal Martin, to discuss the issue.

The UK government's refusal to take back asylum seekers has also raised questions about its commitment to international law and human rights. The Irish government has said that it will not allow its country to be used as a "loophole" for the UK's migration challenges, and has called on the UK government to take responsibility for its own asylum policy.

The situation is likely to continue to cause tensions between the two countries, with the UK government determined to push ahead with its Rwanda policy and the Irish government refusing to accept any returns until the EU agrees to take back migrants who have crossed the Channel from France. The issue has highlighted the need for a coordinated approach to migration policy across the EU, and the need for countries to work together to find solutions to the ongoing migration crisis.