- The British government plans to fly illegal asylum seekers to Rwanda next week. A court has rejected an injunction against it.
- An appeal can still be filed, which would be dealt with by an appeals court on Monday.
- A first deportation flight to Rwanda is planned for Tuesday.
The British government has reached a court that illegally entered asylum seekers can be flown back to Rwanda. The High Court in London refused on Friday evening to issue an injunction to stop the first flight scheduled for Tuesday with around 30 asylum seekers. The judge held that it was in the public interest for Home Secretary Priti Patel to implement immigration policy decisions.
Several refugee organizations and a trade union had complained. They had argued that deportation to the East African country was unsafe and violated asylum law. You can still appeal the verdict. An appeals court would consider the case again on Monday.
Action against smugglers
The agreement with Rwanda provides for migrants who have arrived illegally in the UK to be flown back so that they can apply for asylum there. The government wants to take action against gangs of people smugglers and make illegal entry via the English Channel unattractive.
Legend:
British Home Secretary Priti Patel (L) and Rwanda’s Foreign Secretary Vincent Biruta after signing an “Economic Development Partnership” in Kigali, Rwanda in April 2022. The agreement stipulates the return to Rwanda of migrants who entered the UK illegally.
key stone
According to plans by the British government, Rwanda will initially receive 144 million euros for the cooperation. The focus is on single young men who are seen as economic migrants.
Last year more than 28,000 migrants crossed the English Channel to Britain, most in small boats. An independent migration policy was also a central issue in the vote on leaving the European Union (Brexit).