Britain has signed a new agreement with Rwanda which it said would override a court judgment blocking its plan to deport asylum seekers to the East African country, a ruling that affected the government’s immigration policy.
The Rwanda scheme’s aim is to stop illegal migration and is being monitored closely by other countries considering similar policies.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court ruled that the plan would violate international human rights laws enshrined in domestic legislation in November.
Under the new agreement signed by British Home Secretary (interior minister) James Cleverly and which substitutes a non-binding memorandum of understanding, Britain revealed that Rwanda would not expel asylum seekers to a country where their life or freedom would be in danger.
Also, there will be a monitoring committee that will enable individuals to lodge confidential complaints directly to them, and a new appeal body comprising judges from around the world.
Cleverly said he expected migrants to leave for Rwanda in the coming months because the treaty addressed every issue raised by the Supreme Court
While talking to reporters in Kigali, Cleverly said: “I really hope that we can now move quickly.”
Under the plan agreed in 2022, Britain intends to send asylum seekers who arrived on its shores without permission to Rwanda to halt migrants traveling across the Channel from Europe in small boats.
In return, Rwanda got an initial payment of 140 million pounds ($180 million) with the promise of additional money to fund the accommodation and care for any deported individuals.
Many lawyers and charities said it was not likely that deportation flights could commence before next year. Labour Party, the opposition party which has a double-digit lead in the polls, revealed it would ditch the Rwanda policy if it wins.
