London, Thanasis Gavos

In the morning he traveled to Kigali, Rwanda UK Home Secretary James Cleverley, to sign a new treaty with the African country’s government under London’s immigration policy.

The treaty includes an agreement on measures that improve Rwanda’s ability to manage asylum applications from migrants and refugees.

THE British government wants to send migrants and refugees directly to Rwanda arriving on British soil by irregular routes, mainly by boat across the English Channel. These people will be able to apply for asylum in the African country.

This plan was rejected, however, by the High Court in London, which ruled on November 15 that Rwanda is not a safe third country.

The measures to be contained in the new treaty face, according to the British government, the objections of the Supreme Court. A key measure will be a commitment by the Rwandan government not to deport asylum seekers back to their countries of origin, but only back to the UK.

Also, among other things, the possibility of London funding more judges to deal with immigration cases in Rwanda has been mentioned. Kigali has denied reports of British judges being placed in the country’s courts.

In addition, probably within the week the British Home Office will submit legislation to the House of Commons to determine that Rwanda is considered a safe third country, a move that in Britain overrides the court decision.

The visit, the new treaty and the forthcoming new legislation follow Mr Cleverley’s new five-point plan to reduce legal immigration on Monday.

The new measures include increasing the minimum gross annual salary that a new immigrant to Britain must have secured from £26,000 to £38,700. The ability of migrants to bring family members to the UK is also severely restricted.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s moves to reduce both illegal and legal immigration come after intense pressure from the more conservative wing of his party and the press.