ASYLUM seekers in Barrow are worried they may be sent to Rwanda after a Government letter said 'safe countries' might be asked if they would accept them.

Thirty letters were received by refugees whose asylum requests are currently being processed by the Home Office.

The letter states: "We may make enquiries with one or more safe countries to verify evidence or as if, in principle, they would admit you.

"We may ask Rwanda, another country we consider to be safe, whether it would admit you, under the terms of the Migration and Economic Partnership between Rwanda and the UK."

It is more than four months since Home Secretary Priti Patel unveiled plans to send migrants to Rwanda to try to deter people from crossing the Channel.

Since then 19,878 have arrived in the UK after making the journey.

On April 14 Ms Patel signed what she described as a "world-first" agreement with Rwanda under which the east African nation will receive migrants deemed by the UK to have arrived "illegally", and are therefore inadmissible under new immigration rules.

However, the first deportation flight - due to take off on June 14 - was grounded amid legal challenges.

A spokesman for Furness Refugee Support said: "This is a cruel thing to do to anybody, especially someone who's gone through what these people have.

"The Rwanda deportation scheme is unjust, unworkable and not having the desired effect.

"It hasn't acted as a deterrent, and how could it, considering the desperate conditions these people are escaping?

"The scheme is believed to break the international refugee convention and to say Rwanda is a 'safe third country' ignores its human rights record.

"We can only hope that the refugees here can find legal representation to fight this shameful threat of deportation.

"It is understood that the Home Affairs Select Committee have just produced a report saying the current asylum system is not functioning and we expect a new Home Secretary after September 6 which may change things."

Several asylum seekers, the Public and Commercial Services union and charities Care4Calais, Detention Action and Asylum Aid are challenging the legality of the Home Office policy, with the next court hearings due in September and October.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "Our world-leading partnership with Rwanda is a key part of our strategy to overhaul the broken asylum system and break the business model of evil people smuggling gangs. 

"We have always been clear we will continue to progress the partnership to prevent loss of life in the Channel, and we are continuing to inform those who come to the UK through dangerous, illegal and unnecessary routes that they are in scope to be relocated to Rwanda, where they will have the opportunity to claim asylum and be supported to build a new life.  

“No court has actually ruled that this partnership is unlawful, and that includes the European Court of Human Rights.''