New development regarding immigrants in the UK!

The UK's controversial bill to deport irregular immigrants to Rwanda has passed the upper house of parliament, the House of Lords.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued a written statement after the "Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill" passed through parliament.

"A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN THE GLOBAL MIGRATION EQUATION"

Sunak stated, “The passing of this landmark legislation is not just a step forward, it is a fundamental change in the global migration equation. We introduced the Rwanda Bill to deter vulnerable migrants from making perilous crossings and break the business model of the criminal gangs who exploit them. Passing this law will allow us to do that and make it clear that if you come here (to the UK) illegally, you will not be able to stay. Our focus now is to get flights off (to Rwanda). I am clear that nothing will stand in our way of doing that and saving lives.”

In a separate statement, Sunak said he expects flights to Rwanda to begin within 10-12 weeks.

The bill, which had previously received the approval of the lower house of parliament, the House of Commons, is expected to become law with the signature of King Charles III of the United Kingdom.

Stopping the flow of migrants is among the priorities of the Sunak government, which argues that the Rwanda plan will be a deterrent.

United Nations human rights experts and human rights groups, however, state that the Rwanda plan is “inhumane.”

THE RWANDA PLAN

The UK government reached an agreement with Rwanda in 2022 to send thousands of irregular immigrants who entered the country illegally from France via the English Channel in small boats and dinghies.

The UK government, which aimed for asylum seekers entering the UK unauthorized via the English Channel to remain in Rwanda until their immigration applications were evaluated, intended to implement the plan in June 2022. However, the Rwanda plan was blocked by a decision of the European Court of Human Rights, and those who were the first to be deported from the UK were taken off the plane at the last minute.

Following this, the UK Home Office filed a lawsuit in the High Court, and in December 2022, it was decided that the policy in question to combat illegal migration was legal, with the right to appeal left open.

Human rights defenders also took the decision to appeal, and the Court of Appeal ruled on June 29, 2023, that the plan to send illegal immigrants to Rwanda was unlawful.

It was stated that Rwanda was not a "safe third country," and the plan in question was defined as "unlawful" until the deficiencies were addressed.

The Supreme Court also ruled on November 15, 2023, that the Rwanda plan was "unlawful" on the grounds that there was a "real risk" that immigrants sent to Rwanda would face persecution or other inhumane treatment as a result of being sent back to the countries they fled.

Upon this, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak signed a new agreement with the Rwandan government and prepared a new bill (the Safety of Rwanda Bill) stating that Rwanda is safe in order to overcome all legal obstacles.

According to the agreement, irregular immigrants sent to Rwanda cannot be deported from there to a third country other than the UK.

News Source: İHA