Desperate Afghans who were left behind in Kabul after being promised sanctuary in the UK will be among asylum seekers removed to Rwanda next week, the Mirror understands.
Migrants who arrived in the UK “illegally” on dinghies or fridge trucks from January 1 will be detained and forced onto charter flights to the east African nation.
According to official statistics, 1094 Afghans arrived in the UK by small boats this year, making up almost a quarter of all small boat arrivals this year alone.
Afghans represent the highest nationality of all recorded, at 24%.
Care4Calais, one of many organisations seeking legal action against Rwanda policy, has said nine Afghans, they are aware of, have been notified of their removal.
The group said it is also aware of around 35 Sudanese, 18 Syrians, 14 Iranians, 11 Egyptians as well as Iraqi, Pakistani, Albanian, Algerian, Chadian, Eritrean, Turkish and Vietnamese people who have been told they could be put on the inaugural flight.
The Home Office has refused to confirm the nationalities of those on board but only Rwandans are exempt from the policy, suggesting that those fleeing conflict – such as in Afghanistan and Ukraine – could be considered for removal if they are deemed to have arrived in the UK illegally under new immigration rules.
But the wave of legal action has cast doubt on whether the first flight next Tuesday will go ahead as planned.
The Prime Minister's spokesman said: "We have been clear from the start that we expect legal challenges.
"That doesn’t change our commitment to delivering this partnership which is designed to prevent the business model of criminal gangs and prevent loss of life."
Tory MP and Boris Johnson loyalist Peter Bone has called for new legislation allowing deportations to Rwanda to be brought to the Commons “immediately” if current plans are stopped in the courts.
In the event of a delay, Home Office officials are understood to be prepared to release and monitor those who are being detained with measures which could include placing them on immigration bail and requiring them to sign on regularly at a reporting centre.
The Government may have to allow the detainees to leave if the flight cannot happen in a reasonable timeframe, in line with rules on immigration detention powers which prevent people facing removal being held indefinitely.
The Tories vowed to resettle 20,000 refugees, with as many as 5,000 in the first year under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.
But the progress of this scheme remains unclear.
Former Treasury minister Jesse Norman also slammed the scheme as he called on the PM to quit ahead of the humiliating no confidence vote
He described the scheme as "ugly, likely to be counterproductive and of doubtful legality".
The large number of Afghans making dangerous channel crossings highlights the Government’s Afghan resettlement schemes are not working.
The Tories vowed to resettle 20,000 refugees, with as many as 5,000 in the first year under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme. But the progress of this scheme remains unclear. In total 9,327 migrants have crossed the Channel this year, a figure not reached until August last year.
Marley Morris, of the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank, said deportation to Rwanda would be an “unimaginably awful outcome for people who have already faced such great hardship”.
Actress Dame Emma Thompson described the scheme as "eye-wateringly mad and callous".
Speaking to Sky News' Beth Rigby she said the Government’s approach “does not represent the soul of this country”.
Former Treasury minister Jesse Norman also slammed the scheme as he called on the PM to quit ahead of the humiliating no confidence vote
He described the scheme as "ugly, likely to be counterproductive and of doubtful legality".
