Last May, the United Kingdom’s Home Office posted footage showing immigration officers going door to door and marching migrants into a waiting van. A caption read, “BREAKING, the first people set to be removed to Rwanda have been detained.” This referred to a deal made two years earlier, where Rwanda agreed to take in asylum seekers who entered the U.K. unlawfully. The scheme seemed to be a failure, as an early flight was grounded due to legal challenges, and only four people voluntarily went to Rwanda after being paid. The Conservative Party lost power, and the new Labour government scrapped the policy, calling it a waste of taxpayer money. Critics believed the plan was more about appearing tough than actually deporting people. The cruelty was the point, as noted by various observers, including The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer.
The article by Serwer in 2018 argued that President Trump and his supporters found common ground in being harsh towards people they disliked, including migrants. Trump’s return to office brought a more racist platform, with cruelty being a focal point. The Administration sent migrants to Guantánamo for political theater, but only a small number were actually sent. Videos posted on social media depicted shackled migrants on planes, labeled as “ASMR,” and specific individuals were mocked for being caught in immigration actions. Trump played a disturbing video at a rally in Michigan, showcasing migrants being handled roughly in a mega-prison in El Salvador. The crowd chanted “U.S.A.!” in response. The El Salvador deportation deal received attention for its cruel imagery, with some detainees mistakenly deported and others from different countries. The U.S. sought similar deals with various nations worldwide, with Rwanda being a potential destination for deportees.
The U.K.’s Rwanda policy, announced in 2022 by Boris Johnson’s government, aimed to regain control over borders and deter traffickers smuggling migrants across the English Channel. The policy faced criticism, with accusations that it was a distraction from other scandals involving Johnson. Despite legal challenges grounding the first deportation flight, Johnson’s successor, Rishi Sunak, continued pursuing the policy. The execution of the policy sometimes contradicted its harsh message, with officials praising Rwanda’s safety and living conditions. The ultimate goal was to dehumanize migrants and send them far away, either as a deterrent or as a political statement. The U.K.’s experience with the Rwanda policy highlighted the performative and cruel nature of mass deportations, echoing Trump’s approach in the U.S. The use of third-country deals to increase deportation numbers faced legal challenges and public scrutiny, showcasing the complexities and controversies surrounding immigration policies in both countries.
