London — The British parliament passed a law late Monday that will mean asylum seekers arriving on British shores without prior permission can be sent to Rwanda and forbidden from ever returning to the U.K. The British government says the law will act as deterrent to anyone trying to enter the U.K. "illegally."
The contentious program was voted through after the U.K.'s Supreme Court ruled it to be unlawful, and it has been condemned by human rights groups and the United Nations refugee agency.
King Charles III, who now must give the Rwanda bill his royal ascent to make it an official law, reportedly criticized the plan as "appalling" almost two years ago as it took shape.
Hours after the law was passed, French officials said at least five people drowned, including a child, in the English Channel during an attempt to make it to the U.K. on an overcrowded small boat.
Why would the U.K. send asylum seekers to Rwanda?
The Rwanda plan was put together by Britain's Conservative government in response to a number of migrant and asylum seeker arrivals on British shores in small boats from France.
In response to the strain on local asylum programs, the government has resorted to housing asylum seekers in hotels, where they are essentially stuck without the ability to work while awaiting the processing of their claims, a process that can drag on for years. The daily cost to the government for these hotel accommodations amounts to around 8 million pounds, nearly $10 million in taxpayer money, as reported by CBS News partner BBC News.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's administration argues that the Rwanda policy will serve as a deterrent to dissuade migrants and asylum seekers from attempting to reach the U.K. in the first place.
Exploring the U.K.'s Rwanda law
Under this new policy, British immigration authorities will have the authority to deport any asylum seeker who entered the U.K. "illegally" after January 2022 to Rwanda. Moreover, these individuals may be barred from ever applying for asylum in the U.K.
The law will be applicable to anyone who arrives in the U.K. without prior authorization, including those who travel on small boats or trucks, even if their intention is to seek asylum and they have valid reasons for doing so.
Under the provisions of the new law, these individuals can be promptly sent to Rwanda, located 4,000 miles away in East Africa, for the processing of their asylum claims. If approved, they could be granted refugee status in Rwanda and permitted to remain there.
Challenges surrounding the Rwanda law
The legislation has sparked significant controversy and political debates.
During November of 2023, the U.K. Supreme Court made a ruling declaring the program as unlawful and in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights. The court expressed concerns that genuine refugees might be subjected to deportation back to their home countries, where they could potentially face harm. Additionally, the judgment raised issues regarding Rwanda's human rights record.
The final legislation, which was approved late on Monday, mandates the court to disregard certain sections of the Human Rights Act along with other U.K. and international regulations, including the Refugee Convention.
Various rights organizations have announced their intention to initiate legal actions against the deportation of individuals to Rwanda at the earliest opportunity. This move could potentially lead to delays in any deportation flights.
