Following parliamentary approval, Britain has enacted a law allowing the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda while their applications are pending. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak remains determined to proceed with deportation flights despite internal divisions within his Conservative Party.
“The passing of this landmark legislation is not just a step forward but a fundamental change in the global equation on migration,” Rishi Sunak said in a statement.
UK Parliament finally approves the deportation bill. The UK will deport illegal migrants to Rwanda beginning in July. pic.twitter.com/IMcHlC9L77
— Emma Peel (@madelynrogers) April 23, 2024
After the Bill was passed, the United Nations has urged Britain to reconsider its plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. The UN contends that this move jeopardizes the rule of law and establishes a dangerous precedent on a global scale.
The deportation proposal has faced significant controversy and legal challenges since its introduction by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2022. To date, no migrants have been deported to Rwanda.
In November of last year, the UK Supreme Court ruled the policy as unlawful. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak aims to address legal objections with the new legislation and fulfill his commitment to prevent people from arriving via small boats across the Channel.
Rwanda, a small nation with a population of 13 million, asserts itself as one of Africa’s most stable countries. However, human rights organizations accuse long-serving President Paul Kagame of governing in an environment of fear, suppressing dissent, and restricting free speech.
#RaceToPower | Rawnda Bill showdown in UK Parliament
First deportation flights will leave the UK for Rwanda in 10-12 weeks: PM #RishiSunak@eriknjoka brings you this report
Watch more: https://t.co/wojetdIEnk pic.twitter.com/utSqli7d26
— WION (@WIONews) April 22, 2024
Although no deportations have occurred, the United Kingdom has already disbursed £240 million to Rwanda. While Britain aspires to transfer thousands of migrants, Rwanda’s current capacity only allows for accommodating a few hundred.
In April 2022, then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson established the Rwanda scheme with the aim of discouraging illegal migration to Britain and disrupting the operations of human traffickers. According to the plan, individuals who entered Britain unlawfully after January 1, 2022, would potentially be deported to Rwanda.
The initial deportation flight scheduled for June 2022 faced opposition from European judges. Subsequently, the UK Supreme Court unanimously affirmed that the scheme was illegal due to the potential risk of returning migrants to their home countries or other nations where they might face mistreatment.
In response to the Supreme Court’s concerns, Rishi Sunak negotiated a fresh treaty with Rwanda, aiming to ensure that asylum seekers are only sent back to Britain. Once the bill becomes law, which is expected later this week, the government will have the authority to detain asylum seekers.
However, this move is likely to face additional legal challenges from charities, campaigners, and unions who contend that Rwanda is not a secure destination.
While some legal experts argue that the current bill would still subject Britain to the European Court of Human Rights’ decisions, which could potentially lead to injunctions blocking deportation flights, tens of thousands of migrants many escaping wars and poverty in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia—have arrived in Britain over recent years, often crossing the English Channel in small boats on perilous journeys orchestrated by people-smuggling networks.
Since assuming office in October of last year, Sunak has prioritized the goal of halting illegal boat crossings. Earlier this year, he claimed to have fulfilled a promise to address the ‘legacy backlog’ of 92,000 asylum claims filed before a change in immigration law in June 2022.
However, data indicates that approximately 100,000 applications are still pending.
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