New information has emerged regarding the release of a large number of inmates, which has sparked heated debate about the asylum seekers’ detention and possible deportation to Rwanda. Bail has been granted to 79 of their clients, according to their lawyers, marking a turning point in the ongoing story.
After Rishi Sunak announced that flights were due to depart in early July, the detention of these asylum seekers began in late April. Still, in a surprising turn of events, government attorneys recently notified the High Court that, as of July 24, no flights will be scheduled. The Home Office has not yet confirmed the precise numbers, therefore there is still uncertainty over how many people have been detained.
Sunak, the prime minister, has pledged to keep up the deportation strategy and has promised a constant flow of planes beginning in July if he stays in office. Opposition parties have voiced their disapproval of this stance, with Labour pledging to end the policy if elected in the general election on July 4.
The Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre, which holds detainees awaiting deportation from the UK, is at the centre of this dispute. The plan’s detractors, who include the SNP and Liberal Democrats, say it breaks international law and must be scrapped.
Judges consider each case individually to see if deportation is probable, but the approaching general election does not provide a formal legal basis for release from incarceration. The vulnerability of many clients, who are survivors of torture and trafficking, was highlighted by Duncan Lewis Solicitors, who represent a substantial number of the detainees. Noting that there was no immediate danger of deportation, they emphasized the reasonableness of the tribunal’s decision to grant bail.
In a similar vein, another legal company, Wilsons, has announced that all fifteen of its clients who were held as part of “Operation Vector” have also been released. In a similar vein, the legal charity Bail for Immigration Detainees revealed that each of their fourteen clients have been either released from custody by the Home Office or given bail by the courts.
It is only possible to hold someone if there is a reasonable expectation that they will be deported soon, according to statutes on immigration removal and deportation. In addition, freed individuals may still be subject to removal from the UK in the future, and courts frequently impose reporting obligations.
As the High Court orders the UN refugee agency to provide expert evidence about alleged abuses in Rwanda and judges deal with multiple legal arguments, the legal environment around the Rwanda deportation plan becomes increasingly complicated.
The future of the program is unclear, but for the time being, the judges must act as though deportation flights could go forward unless ministers from the government tell them differently. Prolonged detention of asylum seekers and the consequences of this divisive policy continue to be hotly debated topics.
