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April 23, 2024

U.K. Rams Through Plan to Deport Asylum Seekers to Rwanda Despite Major Legal and Rights Concerns
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The United Kingdom's highly contested plan to deport asylum seekers to
Rwanda is set to become law after it was passed by the House of Lords
Monday. Despite ongoing questions over its lawfulness, Conservative
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed to begin the deportation flights in 10
to 12 weeks.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak: "But we are ready. Plans are in place. And
these flights will go, come what may. No foreign court will stop us from
getting flights off."

The plan was agreed to by Rwanda and the U.K. two years ago but has
faced intense criticism from rights groups. Monday's bill overrides a
U.K. Supreme Court ruling from last year which found the policy
unconstitutional. U.N. human rights experts have asked the U.K. to
reconsider the plan and warned aviation authorities against
participating in the deportation flights, citing a possible violation of
international human rights laws.

In related news, just hours ago, local authorities say at least five
people, including a 7-year-old girl, died as they attempted to cross the
English Channel from France in an overcrowded boat. Rescue operations
are still underway.


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