Parliament adopts controversial law on expulsion of migrants to Rwanda

The adopted text is backed by a new treaty between London and Kigali, which provides for the payment of substantial sums to Rwanda in exchange for welcoming migrants.

The British Parliament approved, on the night of Monday April 22 to Tuesday April 23, the controversial bill allowing the expulsion to Rwanda of asylum seekers who entered the United Kingdom illegally. Announced two years ago by the conservative government of Rishi Sunak and presented as a flagship measure of its policy to combat illegal immigration, this project aims to send to Rwanda asylum seekers who arrived illegally on the territory, few imports their country of origin.

The adopted text is backed by a new treaty between London and Kigali, which provides for the payment of substantial sums to Rwanda in exchange for welcoming migrants. It aims to respond to the findings of the Supreme Court, which ruled the initial project illegal in November. The law notably defines Rwanda as a safe third country. However, if Rwanda presents itself as one of the most stable countries on the African continent, its president Paul Kagame is accused of governing in a climate of fear, stifling dissent and freedom of expression.

First expulsions within ten weeks

The House of Lords, where the Conservatives do not have a majority, delayed the final adoption of the text by constantly sending it back to the House of Commons with amendments. The latter were in turn systematically rejected by the deputies. In the end, the upper house, whose members are not elected, decided to comply with the will of the House of Commons designated by universal suffrage and no longer amend the text, guaranteeing its entry into force.

Earlier on Monday, Rishi Sunak assured that his government was “ready” to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda within ten to twelve weeks, once the law is adopted. “These flights will take off, no matter what”, the Prime Minister insisted in the morning during a press conference. The government has mobilized hundreds of staff, including judges, to quickly process potential appeals from illegal migrants, and released 2,200 detention places for them while they wait for their cases to be studied.

The government’s bill is strongly criticized by the Labor opposition, migrant aid associations, the head of the Anglican Church and even the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk , who felt that he will “contrary to the fundamental principles of human rights”. After reaching a record in 2022 (45,000), then falling in 2023 (nearly 30,000), the number of people who crossed the Channel illegally aboard makeshift canoes has increased by more than 20% since the start of the year 2024 compared to 2023.