https://en.sputniknews.africa/20231115/uk-government-plan-to-resettle-refugees-to-rwanda-ruled-unlawful-1063560729.html
UK Government Plan to Resettle Refugees to Rwanda Ruled Unlawful
UK Government Plan to Resettle Refugees to Rwanda Ruled Unlawful
Sputnik Africa
In April 2022, the UK signed an agreement with Rwanda allowing the UK to resettle illegal migrants and asylum seekers in Rwanda, where their applications will... 15.11.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-11-15T16:03+0100
2023-11-15T16:03+0100
2023-11-15T16:03+0100
sub-saharan africa
rwanda
united kingdom (uk)
east africa
rishi sunak
scotland
european union (eu)
migration
political scandal
court
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The UK government on Wednesday has lost a crucial legal challenge after the Supreme Court in London ruled that its policy of deporting refugees to Rwanda was illegal as the East African nation could not be considered a "safe third country."The ruling by the country's highest court came after the government challenged a June Court of Appeal ruling that the scheme was illegal, since the expulsion of asylum seekers to Rwanda would violate Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.The latest ruling came as a blow to the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who had linked all his promises to "stop the boats" to Rwanda's resettlement policy. Irregular migration has been an acute problem for the UK for many years, and it has only intensified since the country left the European Union in 2020. In August 2022, more than 13,500 people crossed the Channel to enter the UK illegally, the highest monthly number since the migration crisis began in 2019. Commenting on the Supreme Court's decision, Sunak said in a statement that the government would continue to crack down on irregular migrants."We need to end it and we will do whatever it takes to do so," Sunak further said. The Rwandan government, for its part, did not dispute the illegality of Sunak's policy, but disagreed that the East African nation is not a safe country for asylum seekers.Meanwhile, the prime minister's policy of curbing immigration in this way has been fiercly criticized at home.The opposition Labor Party described Sunak's migrant expulsion project as a "complete failure" after the court ruling.The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, echoed these sentiments, slamming the government's idea of sending asylum seekers "a thousand miles away."The leader of Scotland Humza Yousaf added that such a policy by the UK government is "morally repugnant and must be scrapped."The total number of migrants arriving in the UK in 2022 exceeded 45,000 people. The country's authorities spend several million pounds a day to house refugees in hotels.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20231030/uk-forces-child-asylum-seekers-to-share-rooms-with-adults-reports-say-1063200955.html
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rwanda, united kingdom (uk), east africa, rishi sunak, scotland, european union (eu), migration, political scandal, court
UK Government Plan to Resettle Refugees to Rwanda Ruled Unlawful
In April 2022, the UK signed an agreement with Rwanda allowing the UK to resettle illegal migrants and asylum seekers in Rwanda, where their applications will be assessed and a decision on asylum will be made. However, the plan has not been implemented for almost year and a half due to litigation.
The UK government on Wednesday has lost a crucial legal challenge after the Supreme Court in London ruled that its policy of deporting refugees to Rwanda was illegal as the East African nation could not be considered a "safe third country."
The ruling by the country's highest court
came after the government challenged a June Court of Appeal ruling that the scheme was illegal, since the expulsion of asylum seekers to Rwanda would violate Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The latest ruling came as a blow to the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who had linked all his promises to "stop the boats" to Rwanda's resettlement policy. Irregular migration has been an acute problem for the UK for many years, and it has only intensified since the country left the European Union in 2020. In August 2022, more than 13,500 people crossed the Channel to enter the UK illegally, the highest monthly number since the migration crisis began in 2019.
Commenting on the Supreme Court's decision, Sunak said in a statement that the government would continue to crack down on irregular migrants.
"This was not the outcome we wanted, but we have spent the last few months planning for all eventualities and we remain completely committed to stopping the boats," he claimed, adding that the illegal migration "destroys lives and costs British taxpayers millions of pounds a year."
"We need to end it and we will do whatever it takes to do so," Sunak further said.
The Rwandan government, for its part, did not dispute the illegality of Sunak's policy, but disagreed that the East African nation is not a safe country for asylum seekers.
Meanwhile, the prime minister's policy of curbing immigration in this way has been fiercly criticized at home.
The opposition Labor Party described Sunak's migrant expulsion project as a "complete failure" after the court ruling.
"The prime minister’s flagship policy has completely failed," said Yvette Cooper, the opposition Labor Party's home affairs policy spokeswoman. "Labor argued from the start this plan is unworkable and extortionately expensive, now it has been confirmed as unlawful because the government failed to ensure they had a robust and workable policy."
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, echoed these sentiments, slamming the government's idea of
sending asylum seekers "a thousand miles away."
"The government's Rwanda policy isn't just cruel, callous and morally reprehensible — the Supreme Court has confirmed it's unlawful too," he noted. "The fact the government came up with the idea of sending people fleeing violence and persecution to a country thousands of miles away is shameful."
The leader of Scotland Humza Yousaf added that such a policy by the UK government is "morally repugnant and must be scrapped."
The total number of migrants arriving in the UK in 2022 exceeded 45,000 people. The country's authorities spend several million pounds a day to house refugees in hotels.
