As the conservative government, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, continues to face opposition to their plans to deport migrants to Rwanda regardless of origin, debate and disagreement surrounding the controversial measures persist in Parliament. Recently, the House of Lords voted to delay a law that would legally solidify these deportation plans, making two changes to the bill. The bill will not be discussed again until Monday.
The government’s aim is to deport asylum seekers who enter the country irregularly to Rwanda, where they would have to apply for asylum with no plans for return to the UK. This move is hoped by the government will deter migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats and has committed hundreds of millions of pounds in return.
However, critics such as Amnesty International and many members of the House of Lords argue that this violates international obligations. The Supreme Court has previously ruled that there is a risk asylum seekers in Rwanda may not receive fair treatment. The House of Lords voted on exempting certain individuals such as those who worked for British government in Afghanistan and only considering Rwanda safe country once promised protective measures are in place. While the government rejects these changes, voting between chambers is ongoing.
The continued resistance in Parliament indicates that there is still much debate and disagreement surrounding the controversial deportation plans. It remains uncertain how this situation will unfold or whether any compromises or agreements will be reached.