Interior Minister Priti Patel’s highly controversial plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda by plane next week was approved, despite warnings from the UN refugee agency that the scheme was illegal.
A Supreme Court judge has rejected a proposal by activists to suspend the first flight to deport the Interior Ministry to Rwanda, which was due to depart on Tuesday with 31 migrants on board.
Despite the outrage of human rights groups and opposition lawmakers, up to 130 people have been told they could be sent to the Central African nation for “asylum processing” as the interior ministry plans to schedule more flights this year.
The Prince of Wales reportedly described the government’s policy as “appalling”, with Charles particularly disappointed with the policy, as he will represent the Queen at a meeting of British Commonwealth Heads of Government in Rwanda later this month.
The Times and the Daily Mail said a source had heard the heir to the throne oppose the policy several times in private and that he was “more than disappointed”.
Ms Patel welcomed the court’s decision on Friday and insisted that she “will not be deterred” by further attempts “to prevent their relocation through legal challenges and last-minute claims” by activists.
“Rwanda is a safe country,” the interior minister said. “We will continue preparations for the first flight to Rwanda, along with a number of other measures designed to reduce the crossing of small boats.
Campaign groups said they were “disappointed” and “deeply concerned” by the verdict, but vowed to continue fighting the Rwanda plan. The decision will not prevent individual refugees from filing their own legal disputes against the removal.
Court documents reveal that the Interior Ministry has canceled deportations to Rwanda for five migrants appealing. The lawyers of almost 100 migrants have filed legal challenges with a request to stay in the UK, with others expected to follow suit.
The lawsuit was filed by lawyers on behalf of Care4Calais and Detention Action and the Union of Public and Commercial Services (PCS), who challenged the legal principle of the policy.
Rejecting the motion to block the flight, Judge Jonathan Swift said some of the risks faced by deported asylum seekers were small and “speculative”. Mr Swift said there was a “material public interest” in allowing the Home Secretary to enforce immigration decisions.
Claire Mosley, founder of Care4Calais, said: “Today was just the beginning of this legal challenge. We believe that the next stage of the proceedings could put an end to this completely barbaric plan. “
Judge Swift allowed the groups to appeal Friday’s verdict, suggesting that the judges of the Court of Appeals will hear the case on Monday. The judge also said a full court hearing would be held before the end of July to decide on the overall legality of the scheme.
Detention Action said: “Our complaint will be heard on Monday and our larger lawsuit against this policy will be heard in the coming weeks. Thanks to everyone who stays with us. ”
Priti Patel and Rwandan Minister Vincent Biruta sign a partnership
(PA)
According to the government’s scheme, anyone arriving in the UK on routes deemed illegal from 1 January could be relocated to Rwanda. Government lawyer Matthew Gulick said there was an “important public interest” in deterring illegal immigration.
However, the court was told that the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has a number of concerns about the asylum process in Rwanda, including discrimination against LGBT + people and a lack of legal representation.
UNHCR also told the Supreme Court that the Interior Ministry had falsely claimed that its plan for Rwanda had been approved by the UN Refugee Agency. Laura Dubinski QC, representing the agency, said there were “inaccuracies” in the way the agency’s views were described.
She said UNHCR had informed the Secretary-General that it was illegal, adding that the body remained concerned about the risk of “serious, irreparable damage” to refugees sent to Rwanda.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the UN agency’s criticism of the Rwanda scheme was “damned”, adding that it was a “warning of a lack of treatment for refugees in Rwanda”.
Sir Keir Starmer called the plan for Rwanda a “chaotic diversion” on Friday and said Labor would instead draw up a “proper plan with the French authorities” to tackle human smuggling.
Boris Johnson said he welcomed the news from the Supreme Court, tweeting: “We cannot allow traffickers to risk their lives and our world-leading partnership will help break the business model of these ruthless criminals.
Enver Soloman, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said the government’s plans to continue with the plans despite these legal challenges were “extremely worrying”.
He said: “The government’s claims that the deal will act as a deterrent to ending the human trafficking model have already been refuted by the number of people traveling through the canal since the announcement was made, almost doubling compared to the same time last year. year. ”
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