Rwanda agreement

Last update : May 2024

The UK and Rwanda have made a deal whereby asylum seekers in the UK may be at risk of being sent to Rwanda. This became law on the 25th of April 2024.

It is still unsure how this will be put in place and not everyone can be sent there. The information about the Rwanda situation is changing very quickly. You can check up to date information on the Right to Remain Toolkit or ask for more information to againstdetentiondeportations@gmail.com


People who fulfil the requirements of removal to Rwanda have already and will continue to receive notices of removal from the Home Office. There will also be an increase in the number of people who are at risk of, and end up in, pre-removal detention in the UK.

You may be at risk of detention/removal to Rwanda if:
• If you claimed asylum on or after 1 January 2022 and still don’t have a decision
• If you received a decision under the inadmissibility rules (see here) (this comes after a notice of intent letter)
• If you received a removal decision
• If you received removal directions which specifically mentions Rwanda
See the section ‘New Home Office guidance on removals to Rwanda’ on this website for further groups at risk

If you get a letter with the words ‘notice of intent’ and ‘Rwanda’, you have a short time to respond to the Home Office but you can ask for more time. If this is your case, it is important to get legal support as soon as possible.

IF YOU ARE DETAINED, DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING WITHOUT LEGAL ADVICE. CALL:
• Detention Action: 0800 587 2096
• BID: 020 7456 9750 (Mon-Thurs 10-12), rwandaproject@biduk.org (date of birth + name)
• Care4Calais Rwanda: 07519773268 (WhatsApp only)
• Care4Calais Detention: 0800 009 6268
• GDWG: 0800 389 4367
• SDS: 07438 407 570
• JCWI: 0800 160 1004 (Mon, Tues, Thurs 10-1)

IF THEY TELL YOU THEY WILL DEPORT YOU TO RWANDA, YOU CAN FIGHT YOUR DEPORTATION. CONTACT:
• Wilson Solicitors LLP: 0208 808 7535, rwandareferrals@wilsonllp.co.uk
• Duncan Lewis Solicitors: 0207 275 2570, toufiqueh@duncanlewis.com

IF THEY OFFER YOU TO GO TO RWANDA ‘VOLUNTARILY’ OR IN EXCHANGE FOR MONEY, YOU CAN SAY NO.
DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING WITOUT LEGAL ADVICE.

For the latest info check the Action Against Detention and Deportation socials or send them an email on againstdetentiondeportations@gmail.com