UK ratifies Rwanda asylum plan

The UK Parliament has passed a law to allow asylum seekers to be sent to Rwanda while their applications are processed, according to Reuters. Formal legislative approval is complete but royal assent is pending. The move was met with political resistance, particularly over defining Rwanda as a safe country, which the UK’s High Court had opposed in November, citing risks of mishandling applications or forced returns. To enforce the plan, the Conservative government intends to legislate judges to see Rwanda as secure and permit asylum decision-makers to disregard certain human rights laws, thus sidestepping the High Court’s decision. After back-and-forth debates, termed ‘parliamentary ping-pong,’ the House of Lords yielded to the majority in Parliament. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that flights to Rwanda would start within 10 to 12 weeks.