court declares UK government’s refugee deportation plan illegal

The British government had made it a hobbyhorse in the fight against irregular immigration. The deportation of the refugees to Rwanda was ruled illegal by the Court of Appeal.

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Despite the agreement reached between the British and Rwandan authorities, the courts rejected the plan to deport refugees.  (SIMON WOHLFAHRT / AFP)

It is a victory for asylum seekers and the migrant aid association which had taken legal action. And a blow for the British government, which had been waving the symbol for several months. The Court of Appeal has just declared illegal the plan to deport illegal refugees to Rwanda, which is not a “safe third country“according to justice.

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In order to reduce the accommodation bills for refugees on its soil, the government has reached an agreement with this East African country. However, this system has never been applied. The only attempt ended in failure, the plane remained grounded due to multiple legal appeals.

Risks of persecution

The battle is now taking place in the courts. The High Court initially validated the principle, but the Court of Appeal gave a contrary opinion due to shortcomings in the asylum system in Rwanda. : “There is a real risk that asylum seekers will be sent back to their country of origin and face persecution or other inhuman treatment there. In this sense, Rwanda is not a safe third country”.

The Rwandan government disputes this claim, presenting itself as “one of the safest countries in the world“. For their part, the British authorities can seize a new jurisdiction, the Supreme Court, to try to win their case in this soap opera. These expulsions to a third country are the head of the gondola of the conservative program to fight against the illegal immigration.


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