Asylum seeker in Northern Ireland speaks out against Rwanda plan

An Algerian man who has been seeking asylum in Northern Ireland since 2013 has said that the British Government's Rwanda plan will result in many women and young people ending up in exploitation and prostitution.

This comes as the Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee claimed that 80 per cent of those seeking asylum in the republic since the UK government agreed the Rwanda deal have entered via the land border with Northern Ireland.

Speaking to Belfast Live, the man, who does not wish to be identified, said that he fears people will slip through the system and end up being exploited.

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"With the Rwanda plan, asylum seekers who arrive in the UK will not seek asylum. They will just disappear because they will know that if they seek asylum then they will be sent to Africa. They will keep coming and just disappear into British society," he said.

"When they find themselves without houses, support, the NHS because they aren't legal, what will happen to them? They will be exploited because they will be accepting any job.

"They will be on the streets and if anyone attacks them, beats them or they are the victim of racism they cannot approach the police out of fear they will be sent to Rwanda.

"We will have a situation where women and young children won't be registered with a GP because they will be scared to approach the Home Office as they will see the consequences. People will not stop coming. The boats won't stop and they will find a way across."

The man said that he is aware of people who have left the UK and travelled to Ireland in search of a better life.

"People are starting to leave and start a new asylum claim in Ireland but the country does not have the logistics to support them," he continued.

"Ireland is not prepared for that. They already have people who are seeking asylum and are sleeping on the streets.

"What is happening will be messy. With the Rwanda deal there will be many consequences. Women and children are going to be exposed to sexual harassment.

"We also have women arriving who are pregnant with the idea that if they have a child here then they will be granted asylum. These people are desperate and with the Rwanda plan they will be at risk because they will be afraid of what might happen if they enter the asylum system."

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