UK begins detaining migrants deported to Rwanda | the world

British authorities have begun detaining migrants in preparation for deportation to Rwanda in the near future, the government said on Wednesday, underpinning Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's flagship immigration policy.

More than 7,500 migrants have arrived in England in small boats from France this year, and the government says it will prevent people from making dangerous journeys across the English Channel. 5 people died trying to cross last week.

Human rights charities and unions opposed to the policy are expected to launch fresh legal challenges to stop the flights from taking off, after the UK High Court declared the policy illegal last year.

Footage released by Britain's Home Office on Wednesday showed one being loaded into a van by immigration officials and another being led out of the house in handcuffs.

“Our dedicated enforcement teams are working at a rapid pace to quickly detain those who have no right to be here so we can get planes off the ground,” Interior Minister James Wise said in a statement on Wednesday.

Refugee charity Care4Calais said the arrests began on Monday.

A spokesman said the group's helpline had received calls from “dozens” of people, adding that it was not yet known who would be on the first deportation flight, or when the operation would begin.

Britain has sent its first asylum seeker to Rwanda under a voluntary scheme, The Sun newspaper reported on Tuesday, which is separate from deportation policy.

“People are very scared,” said Natasha Sankarides, co-director of the Freedom from Torture Foundation, adding that the fear of being arrested and sent to Rwanda can drive some to go underground and cut off from their support system.