UK Court Rules Against Rwanda Deportation Plan

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Facts

  • In a three-judge decision, the UK Court of Appeal ruled Thursday against a policy to send asylum seekers illegally arriving in the UK to Rwanda as a safe third country, dealing a blow to the conservative government’s efforts to curb illegal immigration.1
  • UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says his government will appeal the decision to the UK Supreme Court. Stopping migrant boats is one of Sunak’s five top priorities.2
  • Last year, the UK and Rwandan governments agreed to a deal that would send illegal migrants coming to the UK as stowaways or in small boats to Rwanda, where their asylum claims would be processed. However, human rights groups argue Rwanda isn’t a safe third country.3
  • Thursday’s decision reversed a High Court ruling that upheld the Rwanda plan’s legality. Despite already sending £140M ($170M) to Rwanda, the UK hasn’t deported a single migrant as the plan has been tied up in legal challenges.4
  • While the appeal court did not rule that the UK cannot send migrants to a safe third country, it didn’t believe that Rwanda was capable of making sound decisions on asylum claims and was capable of sending migrants back to their home countries, which violates Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.5
  • Rwanda’s government criticized the decision, claiming that it's "one of the safest countries in the world."6

Sources: 1CNN, 2Reuters, 3Associated Press, 4BBC News, 5Guardian, and 6Al Jazeera.

Narratives

  • Left narrative, as provided by Guardian. The UK’s Illegal Immigration Bill is inhumane and the appeals court was right to strike it down. Asylum seekers sent to Rwanda would undoubtedly receive unfair hearings and could be sent back to their dangerous countries of origin. The decision also deals a major blow to Sunak’s failing government, showing the conservatives that they cannot defy international human rights laws. This decision is great news for asylum seekers coming to the UK to flee oppression and seek a better life.
  • Right narrative, as provided by Spectator (UK). This is neither a political victory nor a win for the British people. First, the decision doesn’t deal a blow to Sunak’s common sense Illegal Immigration Bill that will keep the UK safe and prevent human trafficking, as it only deals with a small portion relating specifically to Rwanda. And second, illegal migrants pouring into the UK in small boats via organized crime trafficking networks are not good for the country. The government must act decisively to stem illegal immigration.