https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230424/uk-lawyers-slam-rwanda-deal-over-safe-third-country-argument-1058826654.html
UK Lawyers Slam Rwanda Deal Over ‘Safe Third Country’ Argument
UK Lawyers Slam Rwanda Deal Over ‘Safe Third Country’ Argument
Sputnik Africa
During a hearing at the London Court of Appeal, a group of British lawyers, representing a group of asylum seekers, claimed that the Rwanda deal is “illegal” as the “third safe country” argument used by London is allegedly flawed.
2023-04-24T17:51+0200
2023-04-24T17:51+0200
2023-04-24T17:51+0200
east africa
rwanda
united kingdom (uk)
migrant crisis
migrants
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A group of British lawyers representing asylum seekers has claimed that the deal struck between the Rwandan and the UK governments is “illegal” as the “third safe country” argument used by London is allegedly flawed.According to the lawyers, the East African country is purportedly not able to provide safe conditions for asylum seekers to stay.Their criticisms came during a hearing at the London Court of Appeals.The hearing is yet another in a series of court challenges amid the UK government's plans to deport illegal migrants who crossed into the country in small boats to Rwanda, from where applications for asylum would be processed.One of the lawyers, Raza Husain, has claimed that Rwanda was “an authoritarian one-party state that did not tolerate opposition and imprisons, tortures and murders opponents.”Earlier, Rwanda pointed out that all the migrants deported from the UK would be treated respectfully.The hearing - which is scheduled to take place from April 24-27 - will have the issue of migrants’ safety at its core, according to Ian Burnett, the lord chief justice and one of three judges hearing the case.The Rwanda asylum plan is an immigration policy introduced by London and Kigali in 2022. In it, adults without children whose asylum claim has been deemed "inadmissible" by London could be deported to Rwanda, from where their applications for asylum will be assessed.According to the UK inadmissibility rules, if a person was previously present in or had another connection to a safe third country, where he or she claimed protection, or could reasonably be expected to have done so, provided there is a reasonable prospect of removing them in a reasonable time to a safe third country, the person's claim may be declared inadmissible. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government believes the plan is crucial to curbing the record number of illegal asylum seekers arriving by small boats across the English Channel from France.The first deportation of migrants to Rwanda was planned to take place on June 14, 2022. However, the flight was canceled at the last moment, as the European Court of Human Rights granted a last-minute appeal to all the asylum seekers on board. The UK had reportedly paid Rwanda £120 million ($145 million) for the failed relocation of illegal migrants to the country, and was not happy with the European court's decision.
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asylum seekers, the uk-rwanda deal
asylum seekers, the uk-rwanda deal
UK Lawyers Slam Rwanda Deal Over ‘Safe Third Country’ Argument
The UK government sealed a deal with the government of Rwanda last April to establish an asylum transfer scheme. However, the plan was criticized by the UN high commissioner for refugees due to doubts about Rwanda's ability to provide safe conditions for migrants to stay in the country.
A group of British lawyers representing asylum seekers has claimed that the deal struck between the Rwandan and the UK governments is “illegal” as the “third safe country” argument used by London is allegedly flawed.
According to the lawyers, the East African country is purportedly not able to provide safe conditions for asylum seekers to stay.
Their criticisms came during a hearing at the London Court of Appeals.
The hearing is yet another in a series of court challenges amid the UK government's plans to deport illegal migrants who crossed into the country in small boats to Rwanda, from where applications for asylum would be processed.
One of the lawyers, Raza Husain, has claimed that Rwanda was “an authoritarian one-party state that did not tolerate opposition and imprisons, tortures and murders opponents.”
Lawyers representing the UK government, for their part, stated that the deal is “subject to an exacting set of monitoring arrangements," in particular by the UN high commissioner for refugees.
Earlier, Rwanda pointed out that all the migrants deported from the UK would be treated respectfully.
The hearing - which is scheduled to take place from April 24-27 - will have the issue of migrants’ safety at its core, according to Ian Burnett, the lord chief justice and one of three judges hearing the case.
The Rwanda asylum plan is an immigration policy introduced by London and Kigali in 2022. In it, adults without children whose asylum claim has been deemed "inadmissible" by London could be deported to Rwanda, from where their applications for asylum will be assessed.
According to the UK inadmissibility rules, if a person was previously present in or had another connection to a safe third country, where he or she claimed protection, or could reasonably be expected to have done so, provided there is a reasonable prospect of removing them in a reasonable time to a safe third country, the person's claim may be declared inadmissible.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government believes the plan is crucial to curbing the record number of illegal asylum seekers arriving by small boats across the English Channel from France.
When the deal was made, Rwanda's Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta argued that the move "will address the imbalance in global opportunities which drives illegal migration. The partnership will address the urgent humanitarian crisis by tackling its roots."
The first deportation of migrants to Rwanda was planned to take place on June 14, 2022. However, the flight was canceled at the last moment, as the European Court of Human Rights granted a last-minute appeal to all the asylum seekers on board.
The UK had reportedly paid Rwanda £120 million ($145 million) for the failed relocation of illegal migrants to the country, and was not happy with the European court's decision.
