Rwanda has announced an agreement with the United Kingdom to take in some asylum-seekers for processing in the East African country. Having pledged to control the country’s borders during the successful “Brexit” campaign to leave the European Union, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday announced a crackdown on migrant crossings via routes across the English Channel, saying that migrants who do not meet strict asylum criteria will be flown more than 4,000 miles to Rwanda for processing and possible resettlement there.
British Home Secretary Priti Patel traveled to Kigali, the capital, to sign the deal, which includes £120 million—approximately $160 million—in aid to Rwanda. Patel also called the plan a “joint new migration and economic development partnership,” saying that the U.K. is “making substantial investment in the economic development of Rwanda.” Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta welcomed the partnership, saying that it was about “ensuring that people are protected, respected, and empowered to further their own ambitions and settle permanently in Rwanda if they choose.” The plan, part of a contentious new Nationality and Borders Bill, now goes to Parliament where Johnson’s Conservative Party holds a commanding majority.