Neighbours converse of shock after first migrants set for Rwanda are detained

Residents have spoke of their shock after their city suburb was raided by immigrant officers detaining the primary set of migrants destined for deportation to Rwanda.

A Home Office raid befell on Holmfield Road, in Coventry, within the early hours on Monday morning (29/4) at round 5.30am.

Neighbours alongside the residential road mentioned a home focused was occupied by two males who “kept a low profile” and labored shifts at a hospital.

They revealed the terraced property had been utilized by asylum seekers for round ten years however they’d solely keep for between six to 9 months at a time.

Locals mentioned the present occupants “kept themselves to themselves” and have been not often seen earlier than enforcement officers swooped on the quiet tree-lined road.

One house owner, who wished to stay nameless, mentioned: “We heard movements early Monday morning at 5.30am so the raid must have taken place then.

“The property itself has been housing for asylum seekers for over 10 years.

“It is a landlord owned property and Serco normally attend for any upkeep points and issues like that.

“There’s normally five males living at the property but they only stay for around six to nine months at a time and then move on.

“The recent lot were just a couple of men, the male detained was in his late 20s/early 30s I would guess.

“They are normally really quiet and keep themselves to themselves – I didn’t even know they had been detained to be honest.

“Personally, we think this is very convenient how the government are fast tracking the scheme with the election fast approaching.

“They’re not statistics but human beings.”

Another neighbour added: “I’ve solely moved to the realm myself very lately and am ready for my household to come back from Romania.

“I wouldn’t know anyone from the home. My neighbours have been very form however I’ve by no means seen anyone coming or going from that home.

“There’s lots of people coming in and out at different times as I think they work at the hospital”

A third local, who also did not wish to be named, added: “It’s quite shocking to have something like this happen on our quiet street.

“I didn’t know the guys, they kept a low profile – which is understandable I suppose if they were here illegally.

“But they seemed pleasant and friendly enough. I believe they were Muslim but I don’t know from what country.”

The migrants were taken to immigration removal centres where they will be held ahead of the first flights in nine to 11 weeks time.

The Home Office said more raids are expected to be carried out in the coming weeks.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “Our Rwanda Partnership is a pioneering response to the global challenge of illegal migration, and we have worked tirelessly to introduce new, robust legislation to deliver it.

“Our dedicated enforcement teams are working at pace to swiftly detain those who have no right to be here so we can get flights off the ground.

“This is a complex piece of work, but we remain absolutely committed to operationalising the policy, to stop the boats and break the business model of people smuggling gangs.”

Home Office Director of Enforcement Eddy Montgomery added: “Our specialist operational teams are highly trained and fully equipped to carry out the necessary enforcement activity at pace and in the safest way possible.

“It is vital that operational detail is kept to a minimum, to protect colleagues involved and those being detained, as well as ensuring we can deliver this large-scale operation as quickly as possible.”