Is deporting asylum seekers immoral? The supreme court has ruled unanimously that Britain’s asylum deal with Rwanda is unlawful. Some are horrified that the plan has got even this far.
UK defies court to send migrants to Rwanda
Is deporting asylum seekers immoral? The supreme court has ruled unanimously that Britain's asylum deal with Rwanda is unlawful. Some are horrified that the plan has got even this far.
The plane that was due to fly in June 2022 has still not taken to the air. Back then, just minutes before the Boeing 767 was preparing to take a first group of asylum seekers from the UK to East Africa, the flight was cancelled. After a late intervention from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), the passengers were removed from the plane, presumably with a sigh of relief.
A year and a half later, the government has still not succeeded in making good on their plan to forcibly deport asylum seekersPeople who have left their countries due to danger and are seeking refuge elsewhere. to RwandaA country in the centre of Africa. At least 500,000 people were killed in the appalling genocide of 1994., despite the vast controversy surrounding the policy.
The Rwanda policy has a long and tumultuousDifficult and constantly changing. history of legal challenges. Initially ruled lawful by the High CourtIn England and Wales, a court that deals with particularly important cases, or those that involve large sums of money., this decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal, which concluded that there was a "real risk" that asylum seekers could be returned by Rwanda to the countries they fled due to persecution or "inhumaneCruel, or without compassion. treatment".1
But the Supreme Court's judgment could be the fatal blow. It suggests that the Rwanda policy is potentially in breach of four international agreements on the treatment of refugees, as well as five pieces of domestic legislationLegislation consists of a law or laws passed by a government..
The Supreme Court also alleged that there is evidence of prejudice in the Rwandan asylum system. Rwanda has rejected 100% of applicants for asylum from AfghanistanA mountainous Asian country, slightly larger than France, whose neighbours include Pakistan, Iran and China., SyriaA Middle Eastern country that was the site of much of the fighting during the Crusades. and YemenThe poorest country in the Gulf region is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis. .
Furthermore, Britain is not the first country to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. Between 2014 and 2017, an estimated 4,000 people were deported by Israel to Rwanda and Uganda in a "voluntary departure" scheme which human rights organisations claim systematically violated the rights of asylum seekers.2
The UK's prime minister Rishi Sunak is refusing to be deterred by the unanimous decision by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), assuring MPs that he will push through emergency legislation in defiance of the ruling.
Only 350 people were lined up to be deported. Meanwhile, a total of 615 people made the journey across the Channel to the UK last Sunday alone.3 Sunak had planned for the scheme to act as a deterrentSomething that prevents people from doing something by making them afraid of what will happen to them if they do it., but the resounding failure of the policy has placed his leadership under threat instead.
Advocates of the Rwanda plan say that it is overwhelmingly popular among the British public. But a recent YouGov poll indicated that just 10% of people think that it is a good idea, suggesting that it may not only be immoral, but undemocratic too.4
With £120 million already paid out to Rwanda by the British taxpayer, it is easy to see why the Tory leadership is desperate to cling on to the scheme. But many lamentShow passionate sadness. that the money is being sent 6,500 km away, rather than being used to raise the quality of life of asylum seekers in Britain.
Charities have estimated that more than 50,000 refugees could be made homeless by the end of the year in the UK.5
Asylum seekers constitute by no means a small portion of the population. Every minute, 20 people leave their homes to escape war, persecution and terror.6 As the effects of climate change worsen, refugees are increasingly driven from their homes by ecologicalRelating to the environment. disasters. It could be any of us, some say. How would you want to be treated?
<h5 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper" id="question"><strong>Is deporting asylum seekers immoral?</strong></h5>
Yes: The policy is both unlawful and illegal. As the Supreme Court has evidenced, there is a strong possibility that asylum seekers could be forced to leave Rwanda and return to the place they were fleeing from to face further persecution or even death.
No: It is not the UK's responsibility to take in hundreds of asylum seekers per day when we cannot house them or process all of their applications. It is an imperfect solution, but a necessary one.
Or... Regardless of the morality aspect, belonging to the ECHR is hugely important for the UK's relationship with the rest of the world. The country must follow this ruling.
Asylum seekers - People who have left their countries due to danger and are seeking refuge elsewhere.
Rwanda - A country in the centre of Africa. At least 500,000 people were killed in the appalling genocide of 1994.
Tumultuous - Difficult and constantly changing.
High Court - In England and Wales, a court that deals with particularly important cases, or those that involve large sums of money.
Inhumane - Cruel, or without compassion.
Legislation - Legislation consists of a law or laws passed by a government.
Afghanistan - A mountainous Asian country, slightly larger than France, whose neighbours include Pakistan, Iran and China.
Syria - A Middle Eastern country that was the site of much of the fighting during the Crusades.
Yemen - The poorest country in the Gulf region is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis.
Deterrent - Something that prevents people from doing something by making them afraid of what will happen to them if they do it.
Lament - Show passionate sadness.
Ecological - Relating to the environment.
UK defies court to send migrants to Rwanda

Glossary
Asylum seekers - People who have left their countries due to danger and are seeking refuge elsewhere.
Rwanda - A country in the centre of Africa. At least 500,000 people were killed in the appalling genocide of 1994.
Tumultuous - Difficult and constantly changing.
High Court - In England and Wales, a court that deals with particularly important cases, or those that involve large sums of money.
Inhumane - Cruel, or without compassion.
Legislation - Legislation consists of a law or laws passed by a government.
Afghanistan - A mountainous Asian country, slightly larger than France, whose neighbours include Pakistan, Iran and China.
Syria - A Middle Eastern country that was the site of much of the fighting during the Crusades.
Yemen - The poorest country in the Gulf region is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis.
Deterrent - Something that prevents people from doing something by making them afraid of what will happen to them if they do it.
Lament - Show passionate sadness.
Ecological - Relating to the environment.