Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Netanyahu: If Lebanese Army takes steps to disarm Hezbollah, Israel will engage in reciprocal measures, including phased reduction of Israeli military presence in Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Photojournalist Houssam Al-Masri martyred, reporters Hatem Omar, Mohammad Ashraf Salameh injured in Israeli strike on Nasser Medical Complex.
Israeli media: Intense US efforts are being made to resolve differences, such as the issue of the Israeli presence on Mount Hermon and in southern Syria
Israeli media: The security agreement means amending the disengagement agreement, which will also address the Druze issue
Israeli media: Attempts to reach a security agreement between 'Israel' and Syria were among the topics discussed at the Paris meeting
Israeli media: Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif rejected a US proposal to join the recent tripartite meeting between Tom Barrack, al-Shaibani, and Dermer
Saba News Agency: Two martyred, five injured in a preliminary toll of the Israeli aggression on the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street in Sanaa
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: We observed a state of confusion among the enemy's aircraft squadron after Yemeni air defenses intercepted the attack
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: The Yemeni air defense forces succeeded in neutralizing a squadron of enemy aircraft and prevented airstrikes on some governorates
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: Our air defenses and missile forces forced a formation of enemy aircraft to flee the airspace

UK passes controversial bill to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Apr 2024 09:18
4 Min Read

The British government's proposal to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda receives parliamentary approval on Tuesday after more than two years of debate

  • x
  • British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a press conference in London on Monday regarding a treaty between Britain and Rwanda to transfer asylum-seekers to the African country. (AFP via Getty Images)
    British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a press conference in London on Monday regarding a treaty between Britain and Rwanda to transfer asylum-seekers to the African country. (AFP via Getty Images)

The British government's contentious proposal to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda was granted approval by Parliament on Tuesday, over two years since its initial introduction.

The House of Lords, despite previously suggesting amendments, finalized its endorsement of the bill just after midnight, paving the way for it to become law.

Before his primary policy was ratified, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a public appearance on Monday, standing at a podium adorned with the phrase "stop the boats," echoing one of his fundamental campaign promises.

During a media briefing, he expressed unwavering determination to enact the legislation, asserting its necessity to dissuade individuals lacking visas from making the journey across the English Channel from France to England.
 
 "No ifs, no buts. These flights are going to Rwanda," Sunak said.

Rwanda welcomes; UN, Council of Europe object

Commenting on the decision, the spokesperson for Kigali's government said Rwanda is "pleased" by the UK parliament's passage of a controversial bill aiming to deport asylum seekers to the East African country.

"We are pleased that the Bill has been passed by the U.K. Parliament," Yolande Makolo said in a statement, adding that the government in Kigali was looking forward "to welcoming those relocated to Rwanda."

However, the UN and the Council of Europe begged to differ, calling on the UK to reconsider.

Europe's highest rights body on Tuesday called on Britain to scrap a controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda after the measure cleared parliament.

Related News

Rwanda demands £50Mln from UK after asylum deal cancellation

In defiance of High Court, UK places asylum-seeker children in hotels

"The United Kingdom government should refrain from removing people under the Rwanda policy and reverse the Bill's effective infringement of judicial independence," the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, said in a statement.

On its part, the UN called on Britain to reconsider its plans, warning it threatened the rule of law and set "a perilous precedent globally."

The heads of the United Nations agencies for refugees and for human rights called on Britain to instead "take practical measures to address irregular flows of refugees and migrants, based on international cooperation and respect for international human rights law."

Dive deeper 

The United Kingdom and Rwanda signed a migration agreement in 2022, under which people identified by the UK government as undocumented migrants or asylum seekers would be deported to Rwanda for processing, asylum, and resettlement.

The plan has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and some politicians who believe the measure will not help stem the flow of migrants.

The first deportation of migrants from the UK to Rwanda was scheduled for June 14, 2022. However, the flight was canceled at the last minute due to the European Court of Human Rights ruling.

In the same context, an advocate has asserted that the British government's plan to send asylum-seekers from the UK to Rwanda amounts to human trafficking. 

Meanwhile, the UK government claims that the prospect of deportation to Rwanda will discourage migrants from undertaking the perilous journey across the Channel. Between January and March, over 4,600 migrants crossed the Channel, surpassing previous figures for the same period.

Critics and legislators contend that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that the plan would serve as an effective deterrent.

The Rwanda policy has incurred a cost of £220 million ($274 million) for the British government to date, and this expenditure could potentially escalate to £600 million after the initial deportation of 300 individuals to East Africa. Such financial implications have left Prime Minister Sunak vulnerable to criticism from both ends of the political spectrum. Critics argue not only that the policy breaches international human rights law but also that it represents a costly and inefficient approach. The opposition Labour Party, projected to secure victory in the upcoming general election, has already declared its intention to abolish the policy if it assumes power.

Read next: UK HRW chief: UK disrespecting human rights, must be stopped 

  • asylum-seekers
  • Rishi Sunak
  • Rwanda plan
  • UK Parliament
  • United Kingdom
  • Rwanda

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)

Hamas, other factions accept Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 18 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS