The Safety of Rwanda Bill was approved by the British Parliament on Monday, granting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak the authority to deport numerous asylum seekers to Rwanda. Despite facing opposition in both the House of Lords and Commons due to human rights concerns, the UK government has confirmed that the legislation will now be enacted.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Home Office expressed that the parliamentary endorsement signifies a significant advancement in Britain’s endeavors to prevent illegal migration and address the issue of boats arriving.
Following a five-year agreement reached with Rwanda in April 2022, plans were made for illegal immigrants to be relocated to the East African country. However, no flights have taken place since the initial one was canceled in June of the same year due to intervention from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The UK’s highest court has also ruled the scheme unlawful, deeming Rwanda unsafe for deportees.
To promote Rwanda as a secure refuge for refugees and prevent further legal challenges to the plan, Sunak’s government introduced the Safety of Rwanda Bill late last year. Conservative MPs advocated for amendments to bypass laws that impede the swift removal of illegal migrants crossing the English Channel. Nevertheless, the UN and the British Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights have deemed the proposed law illegal, asserting that it could severely damage the UK’s reputation. The House of Lords had previously supported a motion urging parliament not to ratify the bill.
The Home Office has responded to the approval by stating that the new legislation emphasizes the sovereignty of the UK Parliament and ensures that the validity of any Act of Parliament is not affected by international law.
Additionally, this approval means that Rwanda will now be recognized as a “safe country” for relocating individuals, including in UK courts and tribunals.
The statement also mentions that the Home Office has implemented robust operational plans to facilitate the first flight to Rwanda within 10 to 12 weeks, with subsequent flights to follow. It has been reported that the Home Office has identified a reduced list of 350 migrants who are considered to pose the lowest risk of successfully challenging their deportation. Lawyers, however, have indicated that they will file legal challenges on a case-by-case basis for individual asylum seekers, which could potentially result in their removal from the flight list.
