During his visit to Rwanda, the British Home Secretary James has signed the Smart Deal, which allows asylum seekers in the UK to be sent to Rwanda.
On Tuesday James wisely announced that Rwanda had “made a clear commitment to safeguarding the safety of migrants sent by the UK”.
He signed the new agreement on migration during a press conference in Kigali with Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Bruta.
A first draft of the treaty was rejected by the UK Supreme Court
The UK government has floated the idea of extradition to Rwanda as a strategy to reduce migration. Plans are being closely watched by other countries considering similar policies.
But Britain’s Supreme Court ruled last month that this kind of strategy violates several international human rights laws.
According to the court, expelled refugees risk being sent back to their home country to face persecution there.
After that, Britain tried to renegotiate the agreement with Rwanda. Now the deal is said to include a firm promise that Rwanda will not deport asylum seekers sent by Britain.
A protester with pictures of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and former Home Secretary Priti Patel and Suella Braverman outside the High Court in London on 15.11.2023.
Image: Amar Ghazal / Alamy / All Over Press
United Kingdom, Refugees, Rwanda, Migration, Asylum Seekers, Deportation, Courts, Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson, UK Politics, Migration, Conservative Party (UK)
Asylum seekers should be discouraged
With its new strategy, Britain wants to try to stop asylum seekers from crossing the English Channel from Europe in small boats.
In return, Rwanda received an initial payment of 140 million British pounds (163 million euros), with more money to finance housing and care for deportees.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has come under intense pressure to reduce immigration figures – which hit a record 745,000 last year.
“Stopping the boats” is one of the goals Sunak has set for his government ahead of next year’s elections.
I am tired of our Rwanda policy being blocked
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reports in The Sun
Rwanda should be defined as a safe country
The government is expected to soon pass new laws declaring Rwanda a safe country. The Act is intended to stop legal action against scheduled deportation flights.
Within the Conservative Party, there are differing views on how migration issues should be handled and some MPs want the country to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights.
The British idea of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda was first mooted by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
So far no asylum seekers have been sent to Rwanda.
Critics range from opposition MPs to conservatives to church leaders and the UN. As far as the refugee agency – they cannot accept this kind of asylum policy and point out that it is a waste of money, immoral and unworkable.
Source: AFP
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