British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s plan to send some migrants to Rwanda has finally received Parliament’s approval, ending a two-month legislative stalemate. The House of Lords, which had previously blocked the measure, dropped its amendments after Sunak threatened to keep both houses in session until the bill was passed.
Sunak had earlier held a press conference, urging the Lords to cease obstructing his proposal, which is intended to address the surge in migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats. The government believes that deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda will serve as a deterrent, as migrants often pay criminal gangs substantial sums to facilitate their illegal journeys.
Despite Parliament’s approval, the plan faces continued legal challenges that could delay the deportation flights. Professor Tim Bale of Queen Mary University of London believes that attempts to legally block the deportations are likely. Sunak has staked his political future on this initiative, making it a central plank of his campaign to reduce illegal immigration and combat the Conservative Party’s decline in opinion polls.
Sunak had previously promised to implement the first deportation flights this spring, but has since blamed the delays on resistance from the opposition Labour Party. He declined to provide details on the number of people to be deported or the precise timing of the flights, citing the potential for obstructionist tactics from opponents.
In preparation for the bill’s approval, the government has already secured planes, expanded detention facilities, hired additional immigration caseworkers, and allocated court space for appeals. Sunak has also indicated a willingness to disregard any attempt by the European Court of Human Rights to impede the deportations.
Known as the Safety of Rwanda Bill, the legislation follows a UK Supreme Court ruling that prohibited the deportation flights due to concerns about the safety of migrants in Rwanda. The government subsequently signed a new treaty with Rwanda to enhance protections for migrants and declared Rwanda a safe country in the proposed legislation.
The bill had been caught in the intricacies of the British parliamentary system, with the unelected House of Lords scrutinizing and proposing amendments to measures approved by the elected House of Commons. However, the Lords lacked the authority to outright block the legislation, leading to a protracted back-and-forth between the two chambers.
Critics of the policy have declined to disclose their next move. Human rights groups, such as Detention Action, have urged the public to prioritize the lives and well-being of asylum seekers amidst the political wrangling.
