More migrants seen arriving at Dover even as Rwanda crackdown gets underway. A Border Force vessel is seen escorting a group of migrants who are believed to have made their way to UK shores on small boats.
READ MORE:The latest in a long line of legal challenges was launched against the Rwanda policy tonight by a civil service union, who claimed its members could be breaking international law if they implement the scheme.The dramatic immigration raids were a major boost for Rishi Sunak as millions of voters head to the polls in Thursday's local elections.
The raids were the first concrete sign that the £500million Rwanda scheme could finally take off after years in limbo. The Home Office said the Rwanda removals programme, code-named Operation Vector, began on Monday lunchtime and will involve 800 uniformed officers from its Immigration Enforcement unit.
A source close to the Home Secretary said: 'During the detention operations ahead of getting flights to Rwanda there have been incidents of people trying to disrupt lawful enforcement operations. Police have arrested people involved and helped enforcement officers perform their duties unhindered. Mr Cleverly said: 'Our Rwanda partnership is a pioneering response to the global challenge of illegal migration, and we have worked tirelessly to introduce new, robust legislation to deliver it.'
Officials 'fully expect' that detainees held this week will apply for bail, most likely after being in the centres for four weeks. The Home Office yesterday confirmed there were 268 arrivals across the Channel by small boat on Tuesday. The running total since the start of the year is now 7,567, up 22 per cent on the same period last year.
It said that it intends to get planes to the east African country underway in 'the next 9 to 11 weeks', after the Safety of Rwanda Act became law last week following a troubled journey through Parliament. 'Our dedicated enforcement teams are working at pace to swiftly detain those who have no right to be here so we can get flights off the ground.
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