UK: Court of Appeal rules government’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda unlawful

In UK, the Court of Appeal has ruled that government’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful. The Court of Appeal today concluded by a majority of two to one that Rwanda could not be treated as a safe third country. The ruling is a huge blow for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, grappling with high inflation and rising interest rates amid growing pressure from his Conservative party and the public to tackle rising numbers of asylum seekers costing 3 billion pounds a year to accommodate.

Under an initial 140 million pound deal struck last year, Britain planned to send tens of thousands of asylum seekers who arrive on its shores to the East African country. Meanwhile, Mr. Sunak said he fundamentally disagrees with the legal ruling that the Rwanda deportation scheme is unlawful and will appeal it at the Supreme Court. The Prime Minister said he will do whatever is necessary to get the removal flights going after campaigners won a Court of Appeal challenge over the controversial policy.