In a significant legal blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s migration policy, the UK Supreme Court ruled the government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda unlawful. The unanimous decision followed an appeals court ruling that deemed the policy, announced in April 2022, as not lawful. The plan aimed to fly asylum seekers who arrived in the UK illegally to Rwanda but faced legal challenges and failed to deport a single person.
The Supreme Court judges found Rwanda couldn’t be considered a safe country due to the risk of genuine refugees being returned to their countries of origin. This ruling sparked a political battle within the Conservative Party, with some members calling for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
In response, Sunak hinted at the possibility of pursuing a formal treaty with Rwanda, subject to legal scrutiny, and introducing emergency legislation to unilaterally declare Rwanda a safe country. The Supreme Court’s decision reignites debates on illegal migration, setting the stage for internal party conflicts as a general election approaches.
The Rwanda plan, intended to address a surge in perilous small boat crossings in the English Channel, was met with condemnation from humanitarian groups. As the government reevaluates its approach, the ruling underscores the complexities of addressing asylum issues while navigating legal and political challenges.