The UK government is pursuing an agreement with Rwanda that could involve the placement of British lawyers in Rwandan courts as part of a treaty allowing the UK to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda. This development follows a Supreme Court ruling deeming the initial plans unlawful, citing concerns about the Rwandan justice system.
Downing Street has committed to releasing a treaty with Kigali to address the court’s apprehensions. Sources suggest that Home Secretary James Cleverly may travel to Rwanda this week to finalize the agreement.
An updated treaty, potentially announced as early as Tuesday, is expected to be accompanied by emergency legislation, aiming to prevent future court blockades.
Officials aim to expedite the policy’s revival before spring, anticipating the first flights to Rwanda by then.
The policy, announced in April 2022, proposed sending some asylum seekers to Rwanda to seek asylum there. Those not granted refugee status in Rwanda could apply to settle there by other means or seek asylum in another “safe third country.”
The Supreme Court ruled against the policy, expressing doubts about Rwanda’s commitment to the international law principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning asylum seekers to their origin country if it endangers them.
In response, the government seeks a formal treaty with Rwanda to reinforce legal assurances. Reports suggest the prospective treaty may include British lawyers stationed in Rwandan courts, addressing the Supreme Court’s concerns.
It’s reported by The Sunday Times that the treaty might also allocate an additional £15 million to Rwanda to bolster its asylum processing system, supplementing the £140 million already paid by the UK government for the scheme. Legal challenges postponed the scheme’s planned launch in June 2022.
The UK has witnessed an increase in illegal arrivals via Channel crossings in small boats, motivating the proposal for the Rwanda policy. As of December 2, 28,972 individuals had made the journey in 2023. Last year, 45,755 people made the crossing, marking the highest figure since data collection began in 2018.
Simultaneously, the government is contemplating new measures to curb legal migration, following reports of record-high net migration figures in 2022. Speculations suggest potential alterations in occupation lists allowing hiring below standard salary thresholds and discussions about limiting dependents accompanying migrants to the UK.
