UK Appeal Court to rule on the lawfulness of government’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, following a legal challenge by migrants and campaigners.
London’s Appeal Court will deliver a verdict on Thursday regarding the legality of the UK government’s contentious proposal to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. The plan, introduced by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, aimed to address the escalating number of migrants crossing the English Channel. However, the policy faced strong opposition from human rights groups and charities, leading to successful legal challenges that halted initial deportation flights.
The case was brought before the High Court, where individuals who arrived by small boats and migrant support organizations argued that the policy violated various legal grounds, including Rwanda’s designation as a safe third country. In December, two High Court judges dismissed the claims, emphasizing their role in upholding the law and respecting the rights enshrined by Parliament.
Subsequently, the claimants escalated the case to the Court of Appeal, with the possibility of further appeal to the UK Supreme Court, which suggests that the plan will not be implemented in the near future. While the High Court acknowledged the compatibility of relocating asylum-seekers to Rwanda with the Refugee Convention and the government’s legal obligations, the judges noted that Interior Minister Suella Braverman, known for her tough stance on immigration, had not adequately considered the circumstances of the claimants involved.
The issue of asylum claims has become a political challenge for the ruling Conservative government, despite its commitment to asserting control over the country’s borders following Brexit. With over 11,000 people having crossed the Channel from northern France this year and a significant backlog of asylum claims, the government, including former Prime Minister Liz Truss and current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, supported the Rwanda agreement as a measure to address illegal entries since January 1. Prime Minister Sunak and Interior Minister Braverman have emphasized the need for urgent action to combat smuggling networks and prevent further tragedies in the Channel.
However, the main opposition Labour party criticized the government’s plan, arguing that it would be ineffective in deterring perilous sea crossings. Labour’s home affairs spokeswoman, Yvette Cooper, deemed the proposal “unworkable” and “unethical.”
