UK's Rwanda plan fundamentally incompatible' with rights obligations
The UK government's plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda may breach international law and the country's human rights obligations, according to a parliamentary report.
The government's legislation undermines protections in the Human Rights Act, contravenes parts of the European Convention on Human Rights, and does not fully address the UK's commitment to comply with international treaties. [ more ]
Fresh Rwanda blow as ECHR says Sunak's plan breaks international law
The UK government is being warned that ignoring European Court of Human Rights orders regarding asylum seekers being sent to Rwanda would be a breach of human rights law.
The president of the European Court of Human Rights, Siofra O'Leary, emphasized the legal obligation for states to comply with court orders. [ more ]
UNHCR says Sunak's new Rwanda bill still violates international humanitarian law
The UNHCR has stated that the new Rwanda deal proposed by the UK government is not compatible with international refugee law.
The modified Rwanda scheme does not meet the required standards relating to the transfer of asylum seekers and is not compatible with international refugee law. [ more ]
Watch live: Rwanda policy debate after MPs warn bill flouts human rights law
The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill is being debated in the House of Lords, despite concerns about its compatibility with human rights obligations.
The bill is intended to prevent legal challenges to the deportation scheme by limiting asylum seekers' ability to appeal against being sent to Rwanda. [ more ]
Rwandan president offers Britain a refund if Rishi Sunak's Rwanda plan fails
Rwanda's president, Paul Kagame, has offered to repay the UK if it is unable to deport any asylum seekers to his country as part of Rishi Sunak's small boats policy.
Kagame stated that the success of the deportation policy is not Rwanda's problem, and it is up to the UK to resolve any obstacles or challenges. [ more ]
Rwanda president: efforts to implement asylum plan cannot drag on'
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame expressed frustration with the ongoing debate about the asylum deal with the UK, saying there are limits to how long it can drag on.
Kagame stated that he would be happy for the asylum scheme to be scrapped, indicating that Rwanda is not fully committed to the deal. [ more ]
Sunak's Rwanda treaty unlikely to satisfy supreme court', say legal experts
Rishi Sunak's Rwanda treaty is unlikely to address concerns raised by the supreme court about the country not being a safe place to send asylum seekers
The Law Society, academics, and human rights groups have expressed concerns about the treaty and its potential impact on the rule of law and the proposed asylum system in Rwanda. [ more ]
Sunak raised doubts over Rwanda migrants plan as chancellor report
Rishi Sunak was unsure about the effectiveness of the plan to send migrants to Rwanda to stop channel crossings.
Documents reveal that Sunak believed hotels are cheaper than reception centres to house migrants and he wanted to limit the numbers sent to Africa. [ more ]
Rishi Sunak mulling hard-line Rwanda plan' to get planes off the ground
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is considering a hard-line approach towards Rwanda to secure deportation flights before the next election.
The approach involves exempting the new treaty with Rwanda from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), without fully withdrawing from the convention. [ more ]
Watch: Minister repeatedly ignores question on securing airline for Rwanda flights
The Home Office minister dodges questions on securing airline to take asylum seekers to Rwanda amidst controversy and lack of specifics from the government. [ more ]
Lords' latest defeat of Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill delays it past Easter
Peers in the House of Lords voted against the small boats bill for deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda, citing concerns about international law compliance.
Lord Vernon Coaker emphasized the importance of upholding international law and criticized the exemption of ministers in the bill. [ more ]
Migrant dies and another is in critical condition after boat partially deflates in English Channel
A boat carrying migrants attempting to cross the English Channel from France encountered difficulties, resulting in one death and one person in critical condition.
The incident highlights the ongoing issue of migrants attempting dangerous sea journeys to reach Britain. [ more ]
Author of Rwanda book says she fears attacks at home amid orchestrated' backlash
Michela Wrong, a journalist and author, lives in fear of being attacked in her home after facing an online backlash for her book on human rights abuses in Rwanda.
A British public relations firm allegedly played a key role in orchestrating an online hate campaign against Wrong in response to her book, which criticizes Rwandan president Paul Kagame. [ more ]
Rishi Sunak faces crunch Rwanda vote as Tory MPs split
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing opposition from both right-wing and centrist MPs regarding the Rwanda asylum seeker bill.
The centrist One Nation group of MPs is recommending its members to vote for the bill but opposes any future amendments that breach international law. [ more ]
Emergency Rwanda legislation is doomed to fail, says Robert Jenrick
Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick criticizes government's proposal to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, saying it won't solve legal issues surrounding the scheme.
Jenrick believes the legislation does not go far enough in preventing legal challenges and calls for a stronger approach to border control. [ more ]
Rishi Sunak's Rwanda law at mercy of Tory factions
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak holds a news conference to promote the government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda in the midst of a political crisis
Conservative Party split over the bill, with MPs from different factions openly opposing the Rwanda scheme [ more ]
Home Office hires dummy plane to practice forcing migrants onto Rwanda flights
The Home Office has hired an aircraft hangar and a dummy plane for security officials to practice forcing asylum seekers onto flights to Rwanda.
Scenarios staff are practicing for include migrants violently refusing to board planes, Extinction Rebellion-style play dead protests to block flights, and even dirty protests by campaigners outside the airbase. [ more ]
UK: House of Commons passes Rwanda migrant bill DW 01/17/2024
The British Prime Minister's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda for consideration is progressing through Parliament despite potential rebellion from within his party.
The contentious immigration policy still faces political and legal obstacles despite the bill's passage in the lower house of Parliament. [ more ]
Watch live: MPs vote on Sunak's emergency Rwanda bill
MPs will vote on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's emergency Rwanda legislation on Tuesday, 12 December
The bill has caused division within the Conservative Party, with some calling for a tougher law and others warning against breaching international law [ more ]
UK seeks to revive migrant transfer deal with Rwanda DW 12/05/2023
Britain and Rwanda signed a new treaty to revive a failed policy of deporting asylum-seekers to Rwanda, after the UK Supreme Court ruled the policy violated human rights laws.
The treaty includes commitments from Rwanda on how asylum-seekers and migrants will be treated when arriving from Britain. [ more ]
Afghan threatened with Rwanda removal for second time after Home Office blunder
An Afghan intelligence analyst who helped the British military in Kabul is facing deportation to Rwanda due to a Home Office error.
The analyst had applied for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) scheme but hadn't received a response.
The Home Office mistakenly started progressing his asylum claim, but later admitted the error and paused his claim for potential removal to Rwanda. [ more ]
Rwanda migration plan: What's the UK government's next move? DW 11/16/2023
The UK government's plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda has been deemed unlawful by the Supreme Court based on deficiencies in Rwanda's asylum system.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced plans for emergency legislation to resume deportation flights to Rwanda.
Legal battles are expected to continue throughout next year as the Conservative party fights to stay in power. [ more ]
Britain's highest court rules Wednesday on the government's plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda
The UK's highest court will rule on the legality of the government's plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda.
Opposition politicians, refugee groups, and human rights organizations argue that the plan is unethical and unworkable.
The first deportation flight was stopped in June 2022 and the High Court ruled the plan as legal but with the condition of considering individual circumstances. [ more ]