The conservative Dutch government, as reported by Reuters, is looking into a plan that involves sending rejected African asylum seekers to Uganda.
While the viability or legality of such a plan is in question, the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development
Reinette Klever relayed the plan while on a visit to Uganda.
In response, Ugandan Foreign Affairs Minister Jeje Odongo statedm “We are open to any discussions,” in an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS.
The European Commission recently revealed that it will propose measures to reinforce the EU’s position on migration in response to pressure from governments throughout the union, where illegal migrations now pose a security risk.
In a letter to EU leaders meeting to discuss migration on October 17–18, Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Union’s executive arm, in another Reuters report explained that the Commission will tackle 10 areas to assist the bloc’s 27 member states in addressing migration difficulties.
“In the coming mandate, the Commission… will continue to … ensure that we stand fair and firm on migration, addressing what we all agree to be a European challenge,” the letter read.
Similar plan in the UK last year
The British government under its former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, proposed a plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.
The plan faced a lot of push back including from the Supreme court which deemed the move illegal.
The plan was eventually scrapped when the new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, revealed that he plans to end the “gimmick” of deporting migrants coming into the UK unlawfully to Rwanda.
However, prior to the minister’s decision there had been a detailed government examination of a high-stakes commitment to address rising numbers of people arriving in small boats which revealed that the UK’s proposal to transport asylum seekers to Rwanda would cost £169,000 ($215,035) per person.
According to the government’s economic impact study, the average cost of deporting each individual to Rwanda would be 105,000 pounds for housing each asylum seeker, 22,000 pounds for the trip and accompanying, and 18,000 pounds for processing and legal fees.
