Plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda illegal

London | A UK court ruled on Thursday that the government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, in an attempt to prevent migrants from making the perilous journey across the English Channel, is illegal. Court of Appeal judges said Rwanda could not be considered a “safe third country” where migrants could be sent. The term “third country” is used for countries that are not members of the European Union and whose citizens do not have free movement within European countries. There is a possibility of challenging this decision of the government in the Supreme Court of Britain.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government has promised to “stop the boats”. Many migrants hoping to enter Britain begin their journey by boat from northern France. More than 45,000 people reached Britain by crossing the English Channel in 2022 and many people died in this attempt. The UK and Rwandan governments agreed more than a year ago that migrants who arrive in the UK on small boats would be sent to Rwanda and asylum seekers’ claims would be processed there. Those granted asylum will stay in the East African country rather than return to the UK.