A JUDICIAL review into the legality of the British government’s plan to deport migrants to Rwanda will start on September 5, London’s High Court said on Wednesday.
Under an agreement struck in April, Britain will send tens of thousands of migrants who arrive on its shores illegally more than 4,000 miles (6,4000 km) to the East African country.
Migrants and charities are bringing a judicial review to challenge the policy’s lawfulness.
They wanted to delay the case until October but the High Court sided with UK Home Secretary Priti Patel who wants to proceed with things as soon as possible.
‘We accept there is a strong public interest in hearing this claim as soon as reasonably possible,’ the judges set out in their ruling.
‘There is a public interest in hearing the challenge as soon as reasonably and fairly possibly. All parties have agreed on the need for expedition.’
The judges said they believed a September hearing would enable the claimants to present their cases ‘fairly,’ despite submissions on Tuesday from lawyers that they are facing a ‘hurtling pace’ and struggling to be ready in time.
In written submissions, the Home Secretary suggested further delays to the case would thwart efforts to stop migrants from traveling to Britain on ‘illegal, unnecessary and dangerous journeys.’
