The British Parliament approved a controversial bill late Monday to Tuesday that allows the government to deport asylum seekers who arrived in the UK illegally to Rwanda. After members of the House of Lords sent the bill back to the House of Commons for amendments multiple times, the Lords ultimately agreed not to introduce any further changes, allowing for its approval. Once passed by both houses of Parliament, the law will come into effect as soon as it receives royal assent.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the ruling Conservative Party sought to enact this legislation to compel judges to consider Rwanda, located in East Africa, as a safe third country. Sunak's government faces increasing pressure to reduce the record numbers of asylum seekers crossing the English Channel from French shores in small boats.
The new legislation grants ministers the authority to overlook parts of international law and British human rights law. Sunak pushed for this legislation in response to a ruling by the Supreme Court last year that deemed sending asylum seekers to Rwanda as contrary to international law.
Estimations from the National Audit Office suggest that deporting the first 300 migrants will cost the UK £540 million ($665 million), which is about £2 million per person. Sunak confirmed that the government has prepared an airport and booked chartered commercial flights for the first journey. The Prime Minister pledged that the government would organize regular flights to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda throughout the summer and beyond "until the boats" carrying asylum seekers to the UK cease.
