IN response to the recent UK Supreme Court ruling questioning the legality of an asylum plan, the United Kingdom and Rwanda have inked a revised treaty aimed at addressing concerns and safeguarding the rights of asylum seekers. The agreement, signed on Tuesday, involved UK Home Secretary (interior minister) James Cleverly and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta.
This move came after the UK’s highest court deemed the government’s initial proposal to send asylum seekers to Rwanda as unlawful. The revised treaty stands as a response to these concerns and emphasises the UK’s authority in determining who enters the country.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak affirmed the government’s commitment, stating, ‘We’ve signed a treaty with Rwanda making it clear that it’s us who decides who comes to this country – not criminal gangs.’
The Home Office asserted that the newly forged deal directly addresses the recent Supreme Court judgment. Cleverly, speaking on behalf of the Home Office, declared, ‘Our landmark treaty with Rwanda makes it clear – we will do whatever it takes to stop the boats.’
Key provisions of the new treaty include assurances that relocated individuals will receive safety, support, and most crucially, won’t be repatriated to unsafe third countries. It also outlines plans to bolster Rwanda’s asylum system by introducing an Appeal Body to consider individual appeals, paving the way for potential legislation allowing parliament to consider Rwanda as a safe destination.
This development follows a legal challenge in January, wherein campaigners and asylum seekers successfully contested the original Rwanda plan in the Court of Appeal, deeming the deportation scheme illegal.
The initial proposal, signed in April 2022 by former UK Home Secretary Priti Patel and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta, had stirred international criticism and spurred widespread protests across the UK.
The UK government has prioritised addressing small boat crossings by irregular migrants across the British Channel, with over 45,000 migrants having arrived via this route last year. This revised treaty stands as a critical step in reshaping the UK’s migration policy and handling asylum seeker influxes.