The upper house for a long time refused to approve the government’s proposals unless they accepted more amendments and security measures. The case was sent back to the House of Commons with proposed amendments five times. Finally, the House of Lords relented when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the government would force them to sit together late into the night if necessary.

– No ifs and buts. These planes will go to Rwanda, Sunak said earlier in the day, announcing that the government had chartered planes for that purpose. Personnel training is underway, and Sunak promised to start asylum flights within ten to twelve weeks.

King Charles is expected to give his formal approval to the law later this week.

Will stop migrant boats

The Conservative government made it one of its campaign issues to stop those coming to the country by sea to seek asylum. The plan to send them to be received in Rwanda is part of the strategy, and the hope is that this will give them a boost before elections later this year. For now, opinion polls suggest that Sunak and his party will suffer a crushing defeat.

Critics say Rwanda’s plans are inhumane. They are concerned about the human rights situation in the country and the risk of asylum seekers being returned to countries where they may be in danger.

Must consider Rwanda safe

One controversial element in Rwanda’s proposals is that British judges must consider Rwanda a safe country. This was done to avoid a Supreme Court ruling which stated that the plan to send asylum seekers to the East African country was unlawful.

In addition, the law states that certain UK human rights legislation does not apply to legislation covered by the plan. Limitations also apply to the possibility of appeal.

Several other countries are exploring the possibility of processing asylum applications abroad.

Still fighting forward

But even though the government has overcome all obstacles in the legislative process, recent decisions may face legal obstacles.

Human rights groups and other organizations have said they will try to stop the deportation of individuals. A union representing border guards warned that it would claim the new law was illegal within days of the first asylum seekers being told they would be sent to Rwanda.

Previous attempts to implement the Rwandan government’s plan foundered in court when the Supreme Court ruled in November last year that the plan was unlawful. It remains to be seen what the courts think of the version that has now been adopted.