Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:28am on 06 Dec 2023,Wednesday International
UK Home Secretary James Cleverly signed a new treaty with Rwanda on Tuesday seeking to overcome a court ruling that blocked its controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to the East African nation. The deal establishes new mechanisms like a monitoring committee and appeals body staffed by international judges. The UK claims the treaty addresses legal concerns and says it expects migrants to be sent to Rwanda “in the coming months.” But opposition leaders, rights groups and lawyers argue otherwise, insisting Rwanda still cannot assure refugees’ safety nor impartial assessments, and likely lacks capacity to handle influxes. With migration flows hitting record highs, the embattled policy remains politically divisive. The Labour Party plans to abandon it if elected next year. Lawsuits will continue challenging the deportations as unlawful. The controversial strategy seeks to deter Channel-crossing asylum seekers, with Rwanda receiving a £140 million initial payment.
