by Andrew MacAskill
LONDON, June 10 (Reuters) – The UK’s controversial plan to airlift illegal immigrants who have arrived illegally to Rwanda is risky and irrational, lawyers at the High Court in London argued on Friday.
The British government announced in April an agreement with Kigali to send migrants to stem the flow of asylum seekers crossing the Channel.
The first flight to Rwanda is scheduled for Tuesday.
Lawyers representing migrants, humanitarian associations and a British Home Office union have asked the court to prevent these expulsions, which should initially concern some 130 migrants, mostly from Sudan, Syria, Iraq and Iran.
“The argument advanced by [le gouvernement] that Rwanda offers safe asylum is irrational,” said Raza Hussain, a lawyer representing Care4Calais, Detention Action and the PCS, a union representing civil servants in the UK Home Office.
The High Court was expected to rule shortly.
Under the UK plan, anyone who has arrived in Britain illegally since January 1 could be relocated to Rwanda. (written by Michael Holden; French version Dina Kartit, spoken by Sophie Louet)