Channel migrants could be sent to Ascension Island 4,000 miles from the UK in the South Atlantic if the Rwanda scheme is thwarted under a radical ‘Plan B’ by ministers

Ministers are drawing up proposals to ship Channel migrants to Ascension Island if the Rwanda scheme falters.

As a part of a radical ‘Plan B’, believed to be in its very early phases, unlawful migrants can be transferred 4,000 miles to the British Abroad Territory within the South Atlantic.

As an extra fallback, as much as 5 different nations – all believed to be in Africa – are in negotiations with the House Workplace to take those that arrive in small boats or behind lorries beneath schemes much like the take care of Kigali.

The variety of small boat migrants to have arrived in Britain to this point this 12 months has topped 15,000, with extra anticipated within the coming days because the climate improves.

House Workplace ministers have but to rule which back-up plan is the almost certainly possibility for improvement within the occasion of the Rwanda scheme being finally blocked, the Day by day Mail understands.

The £140million settlement with Kigali was declared illegal on human rights grounds by the Courtroom of Attraction in June. Underneath the deal, Channel migrants and different irregular arrivals will probably be despatched to the Rwandan capital to assert asylum there moderately than right here.

Though ministers are ‘assured’ the Supreme Courtroom will aspect with them and overturn the ruling in October, the House Workplace is devising a spread of choices in case the deal needs to be ditched.

A senior authorities supply mentioned: ‘We’re responsibility certain to cowl all prospects and so, as you’d anticipate, this Conservative Authorities is engaged on plans to cease the boats which might run along side Rwanda.

‘Alternatively different plans could possibly be used if we’re annoyed legally on our relocation scheme, despite the fact that we’re assured it’s lawful and await the Supreme Courtroom judgment.

‘That is the precise and wise factor to do – and it’s what our voters would anticipate of us.’

The event got here after House Secretary Suella Braverman advised The Mail on Sunday yesterday that ‘all choices had been on the desk’ if the Rwanda challenge is unable to proceed.

As a result of Ascension Island is British soil, it’s hoped it might take away a few of the authorized difficulties concerned in deporting migrants to a overseas state.

However proposals for a processing centre on Ascension pose enormous logistical difficulties.

The 34 sq. mile territory – which lies about 1,000 miles off the coast of sub-Saharan Africa – has no hospital and shifting giant numbers of migrants and workers there might overload present energy and water amenities. Migrants can be despatched to Ascension just for processing moderately than on a one-way ticket, it’s understood.

Those that are granted asylum or humanitarian safety by the House Workplace can be introduced again to the UK. It’s unclear what would occur to migrants whose claims are rejected.

The House Workplace usually faces insurmountable limitations when attempting to take away failed asylum seekers, lots of whom can’t be returned to their homeland. Different British Abroad Territories – together with the Falkland Islands – had been thought of as doable areas for migrant processing earlier than the Rwanda scheme was negotiated.

However in late 2021, the Falklands had been dominated out on the grounds it might have been politically disastrous in the event that they had been portrayed as a ‘dumping floor’ after the 1982 battle which price greater than 200 British lives. It’s unclear if the Falklands or different territories are once more being thought of as options to Rwanda.

Final month, the House Workplace’s prime civil servant Sir Matthew Rycroft revealed to MPs the division was engaged on different plans ‘in parallel’ with the Rwanda settlement.

It was reported final 12 months that earlier than the Rwanda scheme was adopted, Britain was in superior talks with Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria and Namibia over related offers to obtain asylum seekers from the UK.

It’s not recognized in the event that they now kind a part of the Rwanda ‘Plan B’ discussions.

Niger was additionally approached beforehand however now appears an unlikely vacation spot for migrants from Britain since final month’s navy coup.

Individually, House Workplace knowledge confirmed Turkish arrivals had been the second-largest nationality amongst Channel migrants final month. Out of three,299 who arrived in July, there have been 370 Turks, after 683 Afghans.

The development has been brought on by February’s devastating earthquake, which left greater than 50,000 lifeless within the nation.

The brand new figures additionally confirmed the ‘legacy backlog’ of asylum claims lodged earlier than July final 12 months – which Rishi Sunak has pledged to clear by the tip of the 12 months – has dropped to 62,157. It fell by about 8,000 circumstances in July.

A separate backlog of asylum claims lodged since final July elevated by 6,415 to 74,622.

It means the entire variety of asylum claims awaiting a choice stands at 136,779 – a fall of 1,921 circumstances in a month.

On the finish of June there have been 117,450 asylum seekers receiving taxpayer-funded assist, together with 50,548 in accommodations. This was up 5,156 from the tip of March.