New asylum plan signed by UK Interior Minister in treaty with Rwanda

Tuesday saw the signing of a new pact between Rwanda and the British Interior Minister James Cleverly, an attempt to overturn a court ruling that had blocked the government’s divisive practise of sending asylum seekers to the Africa nation.

The core of the government’s migration reduction strategy is the Rwanda plan, which is being closely observed by other nations contemplating such measures.

Last month, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom decided that such a move would be against local legislation and international human rights rules.

One of the main concerns raised by the court will be addressed by the new treaty: Rwanda would not send asylum seekers to a nation where their freedom or life would be in danger.

Additionally, there will be a new appeal body composed of judges from throughout the globe as well as a monitoring committee that will allow anyone to submit private concerns to them directly.

Cleverly stated that since the treaty addressed every concern brought up by the Supreme Court and no further funding had been provided to Rwanda to enhance the agreement from the current memorandum of understanding, there was no longer a “credible” reason to stop the deportation flights.

“I sincerely hope that we can move quickly now,” Cleverly stated at a press conference held in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

Deportation flights are unlikely to begin before the next year’s election, according to a number of solicitors and charitable organisations. If the opposition Labour Party wins—which it is now leading by double digits in the polls—it intends to abandon the Rwanda policy.

In an effort to discourage migrants from travelling in small boats across the Channel from Europe, Britain plans to return thousands of asylum seekers who entered its borders illegally to Rwanda. This strategy was agreed with last year.

An initial payment of 140 million pounds ($180 million) has been made to Rwanda in exchange, with additional funds to be provided for the care and housing of any deported individuals.

Apply pressure

There is a lot of pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to reduce net migration, which reached a record 745,000 people last year, with the great majority entering through legal channels.

“Stop the boats” is one of Sunak’s five objectives for his government, which aims to stop the influx of asylum seekers who frequently travel in overcrowded, unseaworthy vessels that they pay people smugglers for.

The Rwanda scheme was rejected by the Supreme Court because to the possibility that deported refugees would have their claims incorrectly evaluated or be sent back to their home countries where they would face persecution.

Later this week, in an attempt to thwart legal challenges to the scheduled deportation flights, legislation designating Rwanda as a “safe country” is due to be published, immediately following the signing of the new treaty.

But this will probably lead to more legal and political squabbling. Due to legal issues, the first flight, which was supposed to take place this summer, had to be cancelled at the last minute.

Immigration attorney Sarah Gogan of Harbottle & Lewis predicted that the government’s stance will be contested due to Rwanda’s human rights record.

“Rwanda is an unsafe country and this is not a quick fix,” she stated. “You cannot in a matter of weeks or months reform a country and turn it into one with an impartial judiciary and administrative culture.”

Labour’s home affairs spokesperson, Yvette Cooper, called the government’s new proposals just another “gimmick.”

Reuters