The UK government’s appeal against a ruling that blocked its plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda will be heard by UK Supreme Court judges on Monday. This plan is a significant part of the government’s commitment to reduce migrant numbers. Three Court of Appeal judges earlier ruled, following a challenge by 10 migrants and a charity supporting asylum seekers, that Rwanda could not be considered a safe third country.
This issue holds importance for Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who pledged to “stop the boats” as one of his pre-election promises. The government has also passed legislation preventing asylum applications from those arriving by small boat. Since 2018, more than 100,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats from France. This year alone, approximately 24,000 migrants have made this perilous journey, with higher arrivals during the summer months when sea conditions are calmer.
Addressing asylum claims has become a significant challenge for Sunak’s government, which aimed to regain control of the country’s borders after the UK’s departure from the European Union. The deportation proposal was introduced by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in an attempt to reduce the record number of arrivals.
However, this plan faced protests from rights groups and charities, and initial removal flights were blocked through legal action. In December 2022, two High Court judges dismissed claims regarding the plan’s legality. Consequently, the 10 asylum seekers, hailing from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Sudan, and Albania, along with the charity Asylum Aid, appealed the decision.
At the appeal court, the judges concurred that the UK government could not ensure that asylum seekers sent to Rwanda would not face deportation to their home countries, where they could encounter persecution or inhumane treatment.
Despite these challenges, ministers are reportedly privately confident about winning the case and have started preparing to deport over 4,000 migrants before the upcoming election. The Home Office aims for the first deportation flight to occur in February 2024.
Meanwhile, the main opposition Labour Party, leading in the polls ahead of the anticipated general election, announced its intention to abandon the Rwanda deportation plan if voted into power. Party Leader Keir Starmer described the scheme as “hugely expensive” and “wrong,” even if the Supreme Court were to rule in favor of the government.