Plans for the UK to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda have been passed by Parliament.
The Rwanda bill was introduced to allow the scheme to go ahead after the Supreme Court ruled it was unlawful.
What is the Rwanda asylum plan?
The government says any asylum seeker entering the UK “illegally” after 1 January 2022, from a safe country such as France, could be sent to Rwanda.
If not, they could apply to settle in Rwanda on other grounds, or seek asylum in another “safe third country”.
No asylum seeker would be able to apply to return to the UK.
How many asylum seekers could be sent to Rwanda?
However, Home Office documents show that of 5,700 asylum seekers in the first group identified, contact has been lost with 3,557.
A government source denied they were missing, and insisted the Home Office could contact everyone in scope for removal to Rwanda.
When could the first flights leave?
Speaking on 22 April, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the first flight to Rwanda would leave in 10 to 12 weeks. Previously, the government said it aimed to start the flights in spring.
Mr Sunak said there would be “multiple flights a month through the summer and beyond”.
He said the government had “an airfield on standby” and had booked commercial charter planes.
What is the Rwanda bill and could it be challenged?
The legislation – which was finally approved on 22 April after intense political wrangling – orders the courts to ignore key sections of the Human Rights Act.
It also compels the courts to disregard other British laws or international rules – such as the international Refugee Convention – which would block deportations to Rwanda.
The Rwanda bill was fiercely criticised by opposition parties and by many charities representing asylum seekers.
Mr Sunak said that 25 courtrooms and 150 judges were available to deal with any legal cases, and there were “500 highly trained individuals ready to escort illegal migrants all the way to Rwanda”, with a further 300 awaiting training.
Is Rwanda safe and what was the Supreme Court ruling?
It said genuine refugees would be at risk of being returned to their home countries, where they could face harm.
Judges said that in 2021, the UK government had itself criticised Rwanda over “extrajudicial killings, deaths in custody, enforced disappearances and torture”.
They also highlighted a 2018 incident, when Rwandan police opened fire on protesting refugees, killing at least 11.
What will the Rwanda plan cost?
If more than 300 people are sent to Rwanda, the UK would pay a one-off sum of £120m to help boost the country’s economy, with further payments of £20,000 per individual relocated.
On top of that, up to £150,000 will be paid for each person sent there, the NAO report said.
These figures would not include the cost of payments to anyone to who chooses to go to Rwanda voluntarily.
Failure to process asylum claims efficiently “has led to unacceptable costs to the taxpayer”, a report by MPs said in October 2023.
Why is the UK Rwanda plan a problem for Ireland?
The Irish government said many asylum seekers are arriving from Northern Ireland because they are “fearful” of being sent to Rwanda.
It believes that about 6,000 people have crossed the land border in 2024.
The Irish government is planning to ask for new powers so it can return these asylum seekers to the UK.
“We’re not going to accept returns from the EU via Ireland when the EU doesn’t accept returns back to France where illegal migrants are coming from,” he told ITV.
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