Airline quits British plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda

A charter airline contracted by the British government to transport asylum seekers to Rwanda has pulled out of the deal following outside pressure, another blow to Britain’s hard-line immigration plan to send asylum seekers to the small African nation. The British deal with Rwanda came as Western nations are taking tougher stands against accepting refugees, and as thousands of people have crossed the English Channel in small boats this year seeking asylum. Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame, is aiming to position his country as a solution to the migrant crisis, though critics see the country as trying to benefit financially from the arrangement. Under the deal, Britain would pay GBP120m, or $135m, to Rwanda to finance opportunities for the migrants, including education, job skills and language training. Those who are granted asylum would not be able to return to Britain, and would remain in Rwanda. Privilege Style, the Spanish charter airline that pulled out of the arrangement, operated a deportation flight in June that became the center of a legal and media firestorm and was halted after the European Court of Human Rights intervened. It was the first and so far only attempted flight as part of Britain’s agreement with Rwanda.<br/>