UK Supreme Court Blocks Government’s Bid to Deport Asylum Seekers to Rwanda
By Matthew Eloyi
In a landmark ruling, the UK Supreme Court has struck down the British government’s controversial proposal to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, citing its illegality, according to a report by the BBC.
The proposed plan aimed to deter individuals from undertaking perilous journeys across the English Channel in small boats. Instead of facing deportation, asylum seekers in Rwanda would have been presented with the choice to seek asylum within the country, return to their home country, or explore asylum options in countries other than the United Kingdom.
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However, Lord Reed, President of the court, voiced concerns over a “real risk” that asylum seekers might face deportation from Rwanda back to the very places they had fled. This pivotal decision by the Supreme Court follows a series of legal challenges that have plagued the proposal since its announcement in 2022.
Initially deemed lawful by the High Court, the plan faced a setback when the Court of Appeal overturned the decision. The final blow came with the Supreme Court affirming the Court of Appeal’s ruling, solidifying the rejection of the government’s attempt to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.