British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Pushes Through Controversial Rwanda Asylum Policy Amidst Parliamentary and Legal Challenges
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed to begin sending asylum seekers to Rwanda within 10-12 weeks after the House of Lords passed legislation, following weeks of delays due to attempts to modify the plan.
The government has secured commercial charter planes and trained staff for the relocation.
The legislation, which aims to reduce the number of migrants reaching the UK, has been contentious, with the House of Lords initially refusing to support it without additional safeguards.
Sunak threatened to keep parliament in session late into the night to ensure its passage.
Tens of thousands of migrants, many from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, have arrived in the UK in recent years by crossing the English Channel in small boats facilitated by people-smuggling gangs.
The UK government is prioritizing stopping the flow of asylum seekers by deporting them to Rwanda, despite criticism for the plan's inhumanity.
Critics raise concerns about Rwanda's human rights record and the potential danger asylum seekers may face in their home countries.
The new law, introduced by Rishi Sunak, limits the application of UK human rights statutes and restricts appeal options.
The legislation, which was previously declared unlawful by the Supreme Court, returned to the House of Commons for further consideration after changes proposed by the Lords were removed.
Other European countries, such as Austria and Germany, are also considering processing asylum seekers abroad.
The UK government's legislation to send asylum seekers who illegally enter the country to Rwanda passed its final parliamentary step in the House of Lords, despite calls from some peers to include safeguards for Afghans who helped British troops and establish a committee to monitor asylum seekers' safety in Rwanda.
The bill is expected to receive Royal Assent from King Charles later this week and become law.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak previously announced that an airfield is ready, flights are booked, and 500 staff are on standby to escort migrants to Rwanda under a policy aimed at deterring Channel crossings and disrupting people smugglers' business model.
Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party is implementing a controversial pre-election policy to send asylum seekers to Rwanda in an attempt to win back wavering voters who want less immigration.
The plan, which has faced opposition from Labour and human rights groups, is expected to face legal challenges if implemented.
The policy aims to deter asylum seekers from making the dangerous journey to the UK, but critics argue it goes against human rights laws and international conventions.
Labour has promised to scrap the scheme if they win the upcoming election and pursue a deal with the EU instead.
Despite parliamentary approval, the policy may face legal challenges from charities, rights groups, and the border force union.
Lucy Gregg, acting head of Advocacy at Freedom from Torture, has called for the UK government to show decency towards refugees and stop attempting to send them to Rwanda, which she deems an unsafe future.
The legislation, which aims to reduce the number of migrants reaching the UK, has been contentious, with the House of Lords initially refusing to support it without additional safeguards.
Sunak threatened to keep parliament in session late into the night to ensure its passage.
Tens of thousands of migrants, many from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, have arrived in the UK in recent years by crossing the English Channel in small boats facilitated by people-smuggling gangs.
The UK government is prioritizing stopping the flow of asylum seekers by deporting them to Rwanda, despite criticism for the plan's inhumanity.
Critics raise concerns about Rwanda's human rights record and the potential danger asylum seekers may face in their home countries.
The new law, introduced by Rishi Sunak, limits the application of UK human rights statutes and restricts appeal options.
The legislation, which was previously declared unlawful by the Supreme Court, returned to the House of Commons for further consideration after changes proposed by the Lords were removed.
Other European countries, such as Austria and Germany, are also considering processing asylum seekers abroad.
The UK government's legislation to send asylum seekers who illegally enter the country to Rwanda passed its final parliamentary step in the House of Lords, despite calls from some peers to include safeguards for Afghans who helped British troops and establish a committee to monitor asylum seekers' safety in Rwanda.
The bill is expected to receive Royal Assent from King Charles later this week and become law.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak previously announced that an airfield is ready, flights are booked, and 500 staff are on standby to escort migrants to Rwanda under a policy aimed at deterring Channel crossings and disrupting people smugglers' business model.
Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party is implementing a controversial pre-election policy to send asylum seekers to Rwanda in an attempt to win back wavering voters who want less immigration.
The plan, which has faced opposition from Labour and human rights groups, is expected to face legal challenges if implemented.
The policy aims to deter asylum seekers from making the dangerous journey to the UK, but critics argue it goes against human rights laws and international conventions.
Labour has promised to scrap the scheme if they win the upcoming election and pursue a deal with the EU instead.
Despite parliamentary approval, the policy may face legal challenges from charities, rights groups, and the border force union.
Lucy Gregg, acting head of Advocacy at Freedom from Torture, has called for the UK government to show decency towards refugees and stop attempting to send them to Rwanda, which she deems an unsafe future.
Translation:
Translated by AI
