“Nothing and no one will get in the way”

When Rishi Sunak moved to Downing Street he stood for a more liberal and pragmatic approach than his predecessors. However, now he assures that “Nothing and no one will get in the way” In its aim to deport asylum seekers arriving in the United Kingdom via irregular routes to Rwanda. After years of legal battles and eternal debate at Westminster, the most controversial measure of the post-Brexit era finally became law yesterday thanks to the determination of a Prime Minister who, knowing the importance of this issue to voters, has Has been radicalized.In its bid to remain in power ahead of elections this autumn.Where all polls predict the end of the Tory era.

“This is historic legislation and represents a fundamental shift in the global equation on migration,” the Conservative leader highlighted yesterday, ensuring that the controversial program “Vulnerable migrants will be prevented from making dangerous crossings”Mainly in the English Channel, and will “break the business models of the criminal gangs that exploit them.”

After a debate that lasted until Tuesday morning due to persistent attempts – without success – by the House of Lords to soften the measure, the parliamentary process was finally completed to send it to Charles III for signature. The Emperor will not do it with particular enthusiasm

According to the press, this is in keeping with the criticism they have faced in the private sector towards the rules. The main representatives of the Church of England, the 23 bishops who sit in the House of Lords, also described it as a practice “that should embarrass us as a nation.”

A safe country?

According to the new law, whoever Those “entering the UK illegally” after 1 January 2022 will be deported to Rwanda So that their asylum applications can be processed there. If they are successful, they may be granted refugee status and allowed to live in the African country. Otherwise, they may seek refuge elsewhere or settle in Rwanda for other reasons. “Safe Third Country”, They will not be able to request their return to the United Kingdom.

The first irregulars will travel to the African country in the month of July, at the earliest, Sunak will therefore not follow through on his earlier promise to start deportations in the spring. The aim was to achieve this before local elections on 2 May, when the Tories were expected to suffer a humiliating defeat, which could also lead to a vote of confidence against the Prime Minister.

The executive argues the scheme will discourage people from crossing the English Channel in small boats. But NGOs condemn it as “inhumane” and expect to file legal action.

For the last four months, the controversial bill was stuck in a process called ping-pong, constantly moving from the Commons to the Lords and back again. Ultimately, the Upper House, which is not elected, decided to abandon it.

The controversial immigration program was launched in April 2020 by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson. But due to the interference of the justice system, no plane has managed to fly to Rwanda yet. at the end of last year, andThe Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, following in the footsteps of the European Court of Human Rights, opposed the measure and deemed it illegal.

The ruling warned that refugees would risk returning to their countries of origin, where they could face harm, saying it was a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights, to which Britain is a signatory. He also cited concerns about Rwanda’s poor human rights record and its past treatment of refugees. The judges noted that in 2021, the British government itself had criticized Rwanda for “extrajudicial executions, deaths in custody, enforced disappearances and torture”.

Doubt in international law

Following the decision, Sunak had to strike a new agreement with Kigali with amendments to ensure that “displaced people in the African country will not risk being returned to a country where their life or freedom is at risk.” ” However the new plan also orders courts to ignore key sections of the Human Rights Act and forces them to ignore other British laws or international standards – such as the International Refugee Convention – that would hinder deportation to the African country. Are. This is still not enough for the hard wing of the Conservative Party and they call on Sunak to remove the United Kingdom from the European Convention on Human Rights.

The FDA, a union representing senior British officials, is due to convene its executive committee next Monday to seek a judicial review over allegations that officials are being asked to breach international law.

Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Michael O’FlahertyYesterday asked London not to proceed with the controversial plan because, in its opinion, it violates the independence of justice and various international treaties signed by the United Kingdom.