Rwanda asylum plan: UK court allows removal flight planned for Tuesday

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

Rwanda asylum plan: UK court allows removal flight planned for Tuesday

By Adam Durbin
BBC News

11 June 2022

A flight to take asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda next Tuesday has been allowed to go ahead by the High Court.

Campaigners failed in an initial legal bid to halt the removals to the east African country, but have confirmed they will take the case to the Court of Appeal on Monday.

Under the policy, some of those entering the UK illegally will be flown to Rwanda to apply for asylum there.

About 31 people have been told they may be on the first flight.

There will be a full judicial review, where the High Court will hear a challenge to the policy as a whole, before the end of July, it heard.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61763818

[Emrys]

1. Whatever the result of Monday's hearing, I'm not sure that would be the end to any appeal process.

Also, since there's going to be a judicial review, it's not an unreasonable hope that the Appeal Court may grant a stay of execution until it's completed.

If so, that wait's going to be tough on those under threat of transportation to Rwanda, but it would allow time for opposition to mount.

[cbabe]

2. Why Rwanda?

[Emrys]

3. I can't improve on the explanation muriel_volestrangler gave on an earlier thread:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1088&pid=21715

[cbabe]

4. Thanks. Good link. I've always thought of the uk as

stone cold racist but this is so ugly.

Isn’t uk putting up barriers to Ukrainian refugees also?

Like Poland blocking the Roma?

This tribalism is despicable and terribly sad.

[Emrys]

5. Yes, Johnson and the government are crowing about supplying arms to Ukraine,

but the barriers that have been erected against Ukrainian refugees are pathetic, despite a widespread sentiment of welcome among most of the population, who would be only to happy to offer them help and accommodation.

It's just vile.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Rwanda asylum flight in doubt after 11th-hour ECHR intervention

Last edited Tue Jun 14, 2022, 05:10 PM - Edit history (1)

The European court of human rights has made a dramatic 11th-hour intervention into the government’s controversial plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda that could ground the inaugural flight to the east African nation.

Lawyers for one of the asylum seekers due to fly this evening have made a successful emergency application to the ECHR after exhausting applications to UK courts.
...
In an initial decision, a letter from the court has stated that the asylum seeker should not be removed on Tuesday evening. Sources have claimed that the grounds cited apply to all asylum seekers facing removal so all asylum seekers due to board the plane tonight can rely on this decision from the court.

The court said it took particular account of evidence from UNHCR that asylum seekers transferred from the UK to Rwanda will not have access to fair and efficient procedures for the determination.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jun/14/european-court-humam-right-makes-11th-hour-intervention-in-rwanda-asylum-seeker-plan

I wonder if the government will try to make it happen anyway, just to get someone sent to Rwanda, and then Rwanda won't be bothered about an ECHR decision.

Just (2210 BST) announced on the BBC that the Home Office says the flight is not leaving tonight.

[Emrys]

7. First deportation flight to Rwanda halted after last-minute legal appeals, Home Office confirms

...
A source said the plane, which was stood ready on a Ministry of Defence runway at Boscombe Down in Amesbury, would not be departing due to "last minute interventions from the European Court of Human Rights".

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the government "will not be deterred from doing the right thing and delivering our plans to control our nation's borders" despite the first flight to Rwanda being stopped.
...
Earlier this evening, it was confirmed that two individuals due to be sent to the east African country had had their exit from the UK postponed following last-ditch efforts by lawyers.

It was understood the European Court, which granted an urgent interim measure blocking the removal of one Iraqi detainee, was considering a number of further requests.

A total of seven individuals were believed to have been due to board the flight before the successful interventions were made.

https://news.sky.com/story/first-deportation-flight-to-rwanda-halted-after-last-minute-legal-appeals-home-office-confirms-12634130

[Eugene]

8. Britain vows more Rwanda deportation flights after setback

Britain vows more Rwanda deportation flights after setback (Associated Press)

LONDON (AP) — The British government vowed Wednesday to organize more flights to deport asylum-seekers from around the world to Rwanda, after a last-minute court judgment grounded the first plane due to take off under the contentious policy.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said ”preparation for the next flight begins now” despite legal rulings that none of the migrants earmarked for deportation could be sent to the East African country.

https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-boris-johnson-business-rwanda-migration-6ac674d20298ecc42e035008b5751a30