Critics deride Boris Johnson plan to fly asylum seekers to Rwanda
AxiosMAR 7 2022
The London Court of Appeal on Mon. denied a proposed injunction to the UK government's plans to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda. The first flight is set to go ahead as early as Tues., despite the controversial policy facing criticism from charities, religious leaders and international human rights groups.
The news comes after the High Court in London on Fri. denied the injunction brought by lawyers representing asylum-seekers set for deportation, alongside the Public and Commercial Sevices union and migration charities Care4Calais and Detention Action.
In April, an agreement was made between the UK and Rwanda to send anyone who has illegally entered Britain since Jan. 1 to the African country. This is reportedly intended to prevent people-smuggling networks and to deter migrants from crossing the Channel to the UK.
This is an important win. There is public interest in preventing illegal immigration, particularly dangerous Channel crossings that have already claimed many lives.
The UK government's appalling policy is an attempt to shift its responsibilities onto another country. The UK itself has even denounced Rwanda's human rights records, and yet the government is trying to make it out to be a suitable place to send vulnerable refugees.