Immigration Authority has begun telling Eritrean asylum seekers that they must leave for Rwanda or be imprisoned indefinitely
Thousands of asylum seekers gathered Monday before the Rwandan embassy in Israel to protest government efforts to deport them. In recent days, the Population and Immigration Authority has begun telling Eritrean asylum seekers at the Holot detention center that they must leave for Rwanda or be imprisoned indefinitely at the Saharonim prison.
Last Thursday, an authority official spoke with 20 of the 886 people detained there, informing them that they must indicate within a month whether they intend to leave the country. She proposed that they go to Rwanda, but the documents they received do not mention this country as a destination. According to guidelines published by the Immigration Authority last week, it will be possible to deport to a third country anyone who did not file an asylum request by the end of 2017, or anyone whose request was denied.
“We’re here to protest our expulsion” said Johnny, an Eritrean asylum seeker and one of the demonstration’s organizers. “This agreement [between Israel and Rwanda] is illegal. It’s shameful, it’s terrible. There’s never been anything like it. We’re prepared to sit in jail rather than go there. The minute you get there you can’t stay. You’re illegal, you have no documents, you can’t work and the language is difficult. They take all your money and you don’t know what’s going to happen. Instead of facing such a death we prefer being in jail. I’m from Eritrea; I didn’t go to Uganda or Rwanda. I came to Israel. Why doesn’t it give us the things it’s obliged to, even though it’s a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention?”
At the interviews, asylum seekers were given two pages written in Hebrew, labeled ‘Information sheet for infiltrators leaving for a safe third country’. It says: “We wish to inform you that Israel has signed agreements that enable you to leave to a safe third country which will receive you and give you a residence permit which will allow you to work and ensure you are not repatriated to your country of origin.” It further states that “the country you are going to is one that has made great progress over the last decade, absorbing thousands of returning residents and migrants from various African countriesthere is stability in this country which has enabled development in many areas, including education, medicine and infrastructure.”
The Population Authority clarified that it would issue asylum seekers who deport themselves Israeli travel documents and pay for their flights. “Our representatives will accompany you through the entire process up to your flight. You can address all your questions to them.” The Authority says that every person will be given $3,500before boarding the plane, along with an entrance visa to the country of destination.
“Upon arrival you will be met by a local team which will accompany you during the first few days there. It will take you to a prearranged hotel, where you will meet local representatives who will explain the choices you have and help you start your adjustment” says the document which was handed out.
Source: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/thousands-of-asylum-seekers-protest-deportation-1.5750599