Deportations of asylum seekers from Britain to Rwanda ruled legal

London, Thanasis Gavos

The UK Government’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda arriving on British soil through irregular routes is legal, London’s top civil court has ruled.

Judge Lewis said the controversial measure first adopted in April by Boris Johnson’s government was “consistent” with the international refugee convention.

However, the judge added that the cases of the first asylum seekers decided to be sent to the African country had not been adequately examined.

He therefore referred their cases to the current Home Secretary, Suella Braverman for re-evaluation.

In her first reaction, Ms Braverman, the head of immigration, welcomed the court ruling, saying the British government’s radical deal with Rwanda would give migrants relocated there the support they need to rebuild their lives on African soil, “while at the same time it will disrupt the business model of people-smuggling gangs who put lives at risk with dangerous and illegal journeys in small boats.”

Boris Johnson had described the measure as “one of the only humane ways” to stop the exploitation of migrants by smuggling gangs. However, aid organizations and humanitarian agencies have criticized this policy because they argue that it deprives migrants of dignity and respect.

THE first deportation flight to Rwanda was due in June with four on board, but was finally postponed after legal refugees in Britain and the intervention of the European Court of Human Rights.

Mr Johnson’s successors, both Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, insisted the measure would go ahead.

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