The United Kingdom has recently passed a contentious law that grants the government the authority to transfer certain asylum-seekers to Rwanda. It is anticipated that deportation flights will commence in the upcoming summer.
The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill successfully passed through the U.K. Parliament after an extensive eight-hour debate overnight. This milestone paves the way for the bill to soon receive royal assent and be enacted as law. The main objective of this legislation is to discourage migrants from entering the U.K. through small boats and subsequently seeking asylum upon reaching the shore. However, the bill faced significant delays in Parliament over the past two months due to the repeated proposal and rejection of amendments by lawmakers in both houses.
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has hailed the bill as a “landmark legislation” and has assured that the first flights to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda, where their asylum claims will be processed, will commence within 10 to 12 weeks.
In a statement on Tuesday, Sunak expressed the purpose of the Rwanda Bill, which aims to discourage vulnerable migrants from undertaking dangerous journeys and disrupt the operations of criminal gangs who exploit them. He emphasized that passing this legislation would enable them to achieve these objectives and send a strong message that those who enter the country illegally will not be granted permission to stay. Sunak affirmed his unwavering commitment to this cause and emphasized the importance of saving lives in the process.
According to Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo, Rwanda is delighted by the approval of the bill by the U.K. Parliament and eagerly anticipates welcoming those who will be relocated to Kigali.
In a statement on Tuesday, Makolo emphasized that despite the recent events, the truth remains unchanged: Rwanda has dedicated three decades of hard work towards creating a safe and secure environment for both its citizens and visitors.
In 2022, former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson introduced an idea that involved partnering with the Rwandan government to address the issue of illegal migrants with asylum applications. The proposal suggested that these individuals be flown to Rwanda if their applications were deemed inadmissible by the U.K. However, the U.K. Supreme Court intervened last November, deeming the plan “unlawful” due to concerns over the safety of those being transferred to Rwanda.
In response, the U.K. took action by signing a new treaty with Rwanda, which aimed to enhance the level of protection for migrants. Following that, in December of last year, the U.K. introduced a proposed legislation that designates Rwanda as a “safe” destination for asylum-seekers.
Top officials from the United Nations have issued a joint statement on Tuesday, urging the United Kingdom to reconsider its plan. They have expressed concerns about the potential “harmful impact” this plan may have on human rights and refugee protection.
“The recently passed legislation represents another departure from the longstanding British tradition of offering sanctuary to those in desperate need, thereby violating the principles of the Refugee Convention,” expressed Filippo Grandi, the United Nations’ high commissioner for refugees. He emphasized that the protection of refugees should be upheld by all nations, not just those in close proximity to conflict zones. This new arrangement aims to transfer the responsibility of refugee protection, undermining international collaboration and establishing a concerning precedent on a global scale.”
The new legislation has been criticized by the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, who argues that it undermines the rule of law in the U.K. and sets a dangerous example worldwide. Türk highlights the negative impact of shifting responsibility for refugees, limiting judicial scrutiny of removal decisions, and restricting access to legal remedies. He emphasizes the importance of assessing individual circumstances and ensuring strict compliance with international human rights and refugee law to protect the rights and dignity of refugees and migrants seeking protection in the U.K.
Just hours after the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill was approved, French authorities reported on Tuesday that five individuals, including a child, lost their lives in an attempt to cross the English Channel from France to the U.K.
According to British Minister of State for Countering Illegal Migration, Michael Tomlinson, the U.K. government is ready to confront a multitude of legal challenges that may emerge as a result of the new policy.
“We will see the deterrent effect kick in once we get the flights off the ground,” Tomlinson confidently stated in an interview with BBC News.