UK Government to Appeal Court Ruling Against Sending Asylum Seekers to Rwanda.
The UK government has announced its intention to appeal a court decision that deemed the plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda unlawful. The Court of Appeal judges concluded that Rwanda did not provide sufficient safeguards to qualify as a “safe third country.” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed strong disagreement with the ruling and stated that the government will challenge it in the Supreme Court. The charity Asylum Aid, which brought the challenge, welcomed the decision, highlighting the importance of the rule of law and fairness.
While respecting the court’s decision, Sunak emphasized the government’s determination to disrupt criminal gangs involved in small boat crossings and reaffirmed his belief that Rwanda is a safe country for relocation. Home Secretary Suella Braverman also voiced the government’s intent to appeal swiftly, considering the system as being biased against the British people. The Rwandan government asserted its status as one of the safest countries globally and its exemplary treatment of refugees.
The case was initiated by ten individuals from various countries, including Syria, Iraq, and Albania, who arrived in the UK via small boats. The decision on whether Rwanda could be considered a safe third country for processing asylum claims depends on the risk of individuals being forced to return to the country they fled from. The High Court initially upheld the government’s policy, but the Court of Appeal judges concluded that the assurances provided by Rwanda were inadequate to prevent wrongful returns to countries where individuals face persecution or inhumane treatment.
The court’s ruling does not reflect a political stance on the Rwanda policy but underscores the need for corrections in Rwanda’s asylum processes to ensure compliance with the law. Human rights organizations, including Freedom From Torture, welcomed the decision as a victory for reason and compassion. The UK government’s plan to deter illegal crossings and dismantle people-smuggling networks by sending individuals to Rwanda was introduced in April 2022. However, the first deportation flight was halted due to a legal challenge shortly before takeoff.
The policy’s cost has raised concerns, with an estimated expense of £169,000 per deported individual under the Rwanda scheme, surpassing the current cost of accommodating an asylum seeker in the UK. The Home Office has expressed that it spends nearly £7 million per day on hotel accommodations for asylum seekers. Critics, including Labour’s Yvette Cooper and Liberal Democrat spokesperson Alistair Carmichael, have criticized the policy as unworkable, unethical, and excessively expensive. The government has not provided a specific timeline for the resumption of deportation flights amid ongoing legal challenges.
