United Kingdom: sending migrants to Rwanda is legal, justice says

The British government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda on a one-way trip it’s legalas two British High Court judges concluded on Monday in a victory for defenders of the controversial measure.

However, the judges also said the government failed to take into account the individual circumstances of the people it was seeking to deport, setting the stage for further legal battles. before the shipping someone in east africa.

A scheduled hearing in the case is scheduled for next month and there will likely be appeals.

Deportation agreement with Rwanda

Several asylum seekers, humanitarian groups and a border officials union have filed suit to prevent the Conservative government from applying a deportation agreement with Rwanda aspiring to dissuade migrants from crossing the Channel in boats.

Britain plans to send some migrants arrived in the country as illegal immigrants or on boats in the East African country, where their asylum applications would be examined. Those who have been granted asylum would remain in Rwanda rather than return to Britain.

“The Court found it legitimate for the government to organize the transfer of asylum seekers to Rwanda and for their asylum claims to be processed in Rwanda and not in the UK,” said Justice Clive Lewis.

exceptions

But he added that the government “must decide whether there is anything about each person’s particular circumstances that means their asylum claim must be processed in the UK or if there are other reasons why he shouldn’t be relocated to Rwanda”.

“The Home Secretary has not adequately considered the circumstances of the eight applicants whose cases we have examined,” the judge said.

The Refugee Council is “very disappointed” by the ruling, said Ever Solomon, head of the charity.

“A Cruel Policy”

“Treat like human commodity people seeking safety and sending them to another country is a cruel policy that will cause great human suffering,” he said.

More than 44,000 people have arrived in Britain via the Channel so far this year, and many died in the attemptincluding four last week when a ship capsized in the freezing waters of the canal.

Human rights groups affirm government agreement with Rwanda it is illegal and unworkable, and that it is inhumane to send people thousands of miles away, to a country where they don’t want to live.

They also point out Rwanda’s bad record on human rights, which includes allegations of torture and murder of opponents.

Britain paid Rwanda 146 million dollars (£120m) within the deal signed in April, though none have been sent yet To the country.

London was forced to canceling the first deportation flight at the last minute last June after the European Court of Human Rights found the plan posed “a real risk of irreparable harm”.

British government he is determined to go ahead with the plan and says it will discourage gangs that smuggle people and send migrants on perilous journeys through the busy shipping lanes of the Channel.

By Jill Lawless, Associated Press

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