Controversial Deportation Law Set for Approval
The controversial draft law proposed by British Prime Minister Sunak to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda could be approved later this week. The lower house has rejected all proposed amendments.
Britain’s conservative government remains steadfast in its plans to deport migrants to Rwanda regardless of their actual origins.
On the contrary, the contentious legislation drafted by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could be ratified later this week. After the lower house turned down all proposed amendments, the draft law will now be put to a vote in the upper house of parliament on Wednesday. If passed without modifications, it could come into effect later this week.
The upper house had previously critiqued the bill and requested changes. However, the lower house dismissed all ten proposals in the evening. The bill will now go back to the upper house for the so-called “pingpong,” a voting process between the two chambers of parliament.
Supreme Court had deemed the plan unlawful
Sunak intends to deport all migrants who enter Britain without the necessary paperwork directly to African Rwanda. This is aimed at deterring people from crossing in small boats over the English Channel and reducing immigration. The Supreme Court in London had ruled the plan unlawful.
Britain now plans to declare Rwanda a safe third country by law, making appeals in British courts no longer feasible. However, the upper house demanded requirements: for example, Britain must continue to adhere to international law and ensure Rwanda fully implements promised guarantees before being deemed safe. Members also insisted that victims of modern slavery and human trafficking should not be deported to Rwanda without further considerations. The lower house overruled these suggestions.
Critics view the plan as an election campaign maneuver
The government aims to send the first migrants to Rwanda in spring, where they are expected to seek asylum. There are no provisions for a return to Britain. However, even with a swift passage of the law, it may still take weeks before the first deportation flights commence. While the bill aims to prevent British courts from determining whether Rwanda is a safe country, each individual slated for deportation can still appeal.
Critics see the government’s plan as a symbolic gesture at the expense of taxpayers, intended to appeal to conservative voters ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election. According to the Audit Office, the deal could cost taxpayers up to half a billion pounds (approximately 585 million euros), excluding payments per asylum seeker.