Setback for the British government. She wanted to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda – and thereby deter migrants from entering the country irregularly across the English Channel. But nothing comes of it.
The British government has failed in court with its internationally controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda regardless of their origin. The Supreme Court in London called Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s plan unlawful on Wednesday and upheld a June Court of Appeal decision. The Supreme Court emphasized that there is a risk that asylum seekers in the East African country will not receive a fair procedure. The court cited, among other things, reports from the UN refugee agency UNHCR.
The ruling is a further setback for the conservative government. With the Rwanda plan, for which an agreement was concluded with the East African country, she wanted to deter migrants from entering the country irregularly in small boats across the English Channel. Last year more than 45,000 people came to the UK this way. The number so far this year, at around 27,000, is lower than last year. But the government’s promise to stop the boats has not yet been fulfilled.
According to the plan, irregular migrants should in future be deported directly to Rwanda without examining an asylum application and instead seek protection there. A return to Great Britain should be ruled out. The plan was met with strong criticism at home and abroad. The United Nations refugee agency condemned the action as a breach of international law. England’s bishops spoke of a “disgrace for Great Britain”.
The government’s defeat in court is likely to trigger renewed calls within the conservative ruling party for Britain to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). It was the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg that stopped the only planned flight with asylum seekers to Rwanda at the last minute with a last-minute injunction.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
