The UK government confirmed today that it has detained an unspecified number of migrants in recent days who are set to be deported to Rwanda in July under its controversial new policy.
It comes a week after lawmakers ended months of parliamentary wrangling and passed a contentious law allowing some asylum seekers to be deported by declaring Rwanda to be a safe third country.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has vowed to stop migrants arriving on small boats from mainland Europe, vowed last week to begin detaining people promptly before deportation flights start within 10 to 12 weeks.
Reports of immigration enforcement officers holding people earmarked for the flights emerged earlier this week.
Today, the interior ministry confirmed that “a series of nationwide operations” were underway.