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U.K. Can’t Deport Asylum Seekers to Rwanda, Supreme Court Rules [1]
['Megan Specia', 'More About Megan Specia']
Date: 2023-11-15
Britain’s Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that a policy to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful, dealing a major blow to a Conservative government that has long described the plan as central to its pledge to stop small boat arrivals.
Justice Robert Reed, one of five judges who heard the case, said the court supported an earlier Court of Appeal decision that found Rwanda to be not safe for refugees, saying bluntly, “We agree with their conclusion.” He emphasized that the plan would breach multiple laws, both British and international.
The court’s unanimous rejection of the government’s flagship immigration policy is the latest setback for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at a time of intense political turmoil in the Conservative Party, which has held power for 13 years and is lagging in the polls.
The Rwanda plan was first announced in April 2022 by then Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he attempted to make good on a Brexit campaign promise to “take back control” of Britain’s borders. Mr. Sunak promised to champion the policy in his campaign for the Conservative Party leadership, and the Conservative government has already paid Rwanda at least 140 million pounds, or almost $175 million, as part of the deal.
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[1] Url:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/15/world/europe/uk-rwanda-deportation-supreme-court.html
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