The Safety of Rwanda Act, aimed at deporting some asylum seekers to Rwanda, has been met with legal challenges by civil servants who argue it forces them to violate international law. The new legislation was passed into law last week, overruling the Supreme Court’s ruling that the scheme was unconstitutional. It was designed as a deterrent to small boat crossings from Africa to the UK.
The Home Office said it has been detaining individuals, but the exact numbers are unknown at this time. The department announced the detentions the day before local elections were to be held in England. The government aims to begin flights to Rwanda in the next 11 weeks, albeit legal challenges could present obstacles to the plan.
Under the new legislation, individuals who might be deported to Rwanda must be given at least seven days’ notice, during which they have the opportunity to challenge this decision through legal means. The Rwandan deportation policy was initially deemed illegal by the Supreme Court; however, the current government seeks to revive the scheme.
Labour has stated it will cancel the Rwandan policy if elected into power, although it has not yet publicly committed to releasing those detained as part of the Rwandan deportation scheme if they win the elections. Indeed, the legality of the Rwandan deportation policy is in question, as civil servants determine whether they are required to break international law in carrying it out.
Meanwhile, asylum seekers continue to arrive in the UK from Africa via the Channel, with 268 arrivals recorded in just one day this week. From January to April, preliminary Home Office statistics show that over 7,500 people have made this journey, an increase of 27% on last year’s figures
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More