UK’s Attempt to Pass Rwanda Asylum Bill Fails in House of Lords
The defeat of the proposed asylum bill in the House of Lords represents a significant setback for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has prioritized curbing irregular migration as a key aspect of his agenda. The bill aimed to designate Rwanda as a safe country for deportees, circumventing a Supreme Court ruling that deemed the East African nation unsuitable for such a classification.
On Monday, the House of Lords passed five amendments to the draft text, introducing measures that would make it more challenging for the House of Commons to declare Rwanda as “safe.” These amendments also stipulate that the government must adhere to both domestic and international legal frameworks.
The vote in favor of establishing a mechanism to monitor Rwanda’s safety received 277 votes, with 167 opposing the measure. This development follows an earlier approval of the contentious bill by most British lawmakers in early January, before the House of Lords voted to postpone it.
The bill sought to compel judges to recognize Rwanda as a safe country and grant ministers the authority to disregard certain provisions of the Human Rights Act. Notably, the proposed legislation faced criticism and legal challenges, with concerns raised about its compatibility with human rights standards.
Rwanda had received $300 million from London in exchange for accepting deportees under the controversial deal reached in April 2022. Despite the financial arrangement, no deportation flights had been initiated due to legal challenges and international outcry.
Despite the setback in the House of Lords, Prime Minister Sunak has expressed determination to proceed with the plan. The defeat underscores the contentious nature of asylum and migration policies, with ongoing debates about their legal, ethical, and human rights implications. The amendments introduced by the House of Lords emphasize the importance of upholding legal standards and monitoring the designation of countries as “safe” for deportations.
