Response to the passing of the Rwanda Bill

The Salvation Army is gravely concerned by the news that the Government’s plans to remove asylum seekers to Rwanda passed into legislation through the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill yesterday.

In response a Salvation Army spokesperson said:

"As a church and charity with significant experience of working with people fleeing dangerous situations we have urged the government to concentrate on improving and speeding up the asylum decision making process in the UK rather than removing people to Rwanda."

"That way, those who are granted asylum can get the assistance we believe they need to settle and become contributing members of society as quickly as possible. We also believe the Government should improve the efficacy of visa routes such as the family reunification scheme and strengthen community sponsorship programmes.

“We have specific concerns for victims of modern slavery whose lives could be impacted by this legislation. The combination of the Rwanda legislation and the recent Illegal Migration Act, will mean that victims of modern slavery who entered the UK irregularly will be detained, possibly removed to Rwanda without access to first responders* to share details of their exploitation to government decision makers other than through immigration officials. 

“While we welcome plans to monitor the impact of this legislation on the lives of victims of modern slavery through annual reporting, we believe this falls far short of the safeguarding measures needed to protect vulnerable survivors of these heinous crimes and enable them to recover and rebuild their lives.

“This legislative change is the latest in a series in recent years, which are eroding protections for victims enshrined in the Modern Slavery Act 2015. With more people continuing to need the lifechanging support we deliver through the Government’s Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract, now is precisely the moment when more action is needed to combat modern slavery. Instead victims now risk being denied crucial support and protections needed to build resilience for their futures or effectively contribute to bringing their traffickers to justice. 

“Illegal immigration is a weapon used to exploit people for profit and it is essential the Government tackle the inhumane use of small boats by criminal gangs. However, that must never be at the detriment to those who have fled conflict and seek sanctuary in the UK and victims of modern slavery.

“The Salvation Army’s efforts to advocate for the rights of vulnerable people will continue. We will continue to stand with survivors of modern slavery, offering shelter, space and support to recover. ”

*organisations authorised to refer people into the National Referral Mechanism, the Government’s system to identify and support potential victims of modern slavery.