By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The United Kingdom’s Interior Minister, Suella Braverman will this weekend, visit Rwanda to finalise talks on the agreement in which the UK will transfer Illegal and undocumented refugees and migrants, a plan that has been faced with series of legal challenges and controversy.
The UK had last year, agreed to send tens of thousands of people away to Rwanda, as part of a 120 million pound ($146m) deal, though, no flights have taken off as opponents challenge the policy in the courts.
The deal with Rwanda is part of UK’s effort to detain and deport undocumented asylum seekers, who arrive the country in small boats in apparent search for greener pasture.
Braverman will meet Rwandan President Paul Kagame during the trip, and said that the move to send migrants and refugees to Rwanda, could be put into action in coming days.
“I am visiting Rwanda this weekend to reinforce the government’s commitment to the partnership as part of our plan to stop the boats and discuss plans to operationalise our agreement shortly,” she said in a statement.
The partnership was announced in April last year, but the first deportation flight was blocked by an injunction from the European Court of Human Rights.
In December, London’s High Court ruled it lawful. Judges also said that the government failed to consider the individual circumstances of the people it tried to deport, signalling further legal battles ahead.
Opponents are seeking to appeal verdict in April and it could yet go to Britain’s Supreme Court later in the year.
Several asylum seekers, aid groups and a border officials’ union filed lawsuits to stop the Conservative Party government from acting on a deportation agreement with Rwanda.
The asylum seekers, would then have to present their asylum claims in Rwanda.
Those not granted asylum in Rwanda under the plan, could apply to stay on other grounds or to try to get resettled in another country.
