UK court of appeal to rule on legality of government's deportation plan for asylum seekers to Rwanda

London: Appeal court judges on Thursday are set to deliver a ruling on the legality of the UK government's controversial proposal to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. The decision comes after a legal challenge mounted by migrants and campaigners who argue against the plan.

The proposal was introduced by former prime minister Boris Johnson as an attempt to address the escalating numbers of migrants crossing the English Channel from northern France in small boats. It sparked widespread protests from rights groups and charities, leading to successful legal challenges that halted the first deportation flights in June 2022.

In December, the High Court in London dismissed claims brought by several individuals who arrived in small boats and organisations supporting migrants. The claimants contended that the policy was unlawful on various grounds, including the assessment of Rwanda as a safe third country. The judges ruled that their role was solely to ensure that the law was understood, observed and that the rights guaranteed by parliament were respected. Following the High Court's decision, the claimants escalated the case to the Court of Appeal. The losing side is expected to take the matter to the UK Supreme Court, suggesting that the plan is unlikely to be implemented in the near future.

While the High Court found last year that the relocation of asylum seekers to Rwanda complied with the UN Refugee Convention and the government's legal obligations, the judges highlighted that Interior Minister Suella Braverman had not adequately considered the circumstances of the claimants involved. Consequently, the cases were referred back to her for review.

Addressing asylum claims has proven to be a significant challenge for the ruling Conservative government, despite its commitment to regain control of the country's borders following Brexit. The number of individuals crossing the English Channel from northern France this year has already exceeded 11,000, and the backlog of asylum claims being processed has reached unprecedented levels.

Former Prime Minister Liz Truss, who briefly succeeded Boris Johnson, as well as current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, have both expressed support for the Rwanda deal. The agreement aims to deport anyone considered to have entered the UK illegally since January 1 to the African nation. Prime Minister Sunak and Interior Minister Suella Braverman have emphasised the need for urgent action to dismantle smuggling networks and prevent further tragedies in the English Channel, reported AFP.

However, the main opposition Labour Party has criticised the government's plan, arguing that it would not effectively address the perilous sea crossings. Yvette Cooper, the party's home affairs spokeswoman, described the proposal as "unworkable" and "unethical." A recently released impact assessment report estimated that the plan would cost £169,000 ($210,000) per person, but it also indicated that a significant portion of these expenses would be offset by not having to accommodate the claimants.