A controversial U.K. bill to send asylum seekers to Rwanda has finally secured the approval of the upper house of parliament, which has demanded numerous amendments, as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to start the first flights to Kigali within weeks.

London

The United Kingdom's legislative bodies have recently finalized the enactment of a controversial bill that mandates the transfer of asylum seekers to Rwanda. This development occurs after prolonged debates and the introduction of various amendments demanded by the upper house of parliament. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has indicated that the initiation of flights transporting asylum seekers to Kigali is expected to commence in the near future.

Despite the expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars by the UK on coastal security and police patrols in France, the influx of refugees and migrants via small boats has persisted. This situation follows two years after the proposal of an ambitious plan by Boris Johnson's administration to relocate refugees to Rwanda, which until now, had not seen practical implementation. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed a determined stance against further delays, emphasizing the government's commitment to proceed with the Rwanda relocation plan.

The passage of this bill was marked by intense discussions, often described as "parliamentary ping-pong," with the upper chamber proposing amendments and the government leveraging its majority in the lower chamber to maintain the original provisions. These negotiations extended into late hours, culminating in the reluctant acceptance by the Lords. Observers note that while the law is now set to enable the offshore processing and settlement of asylum seekers in Rwanda, there remain significant uncertainties regarding its outcomes, including its effectiveness as a deterrent and the logistical aspects of implementing the flights.

Amidst government assurance that the initial flights to Rwanda could take place within weeks, ongoing questions and potential legal challenges loom. Critics and campaigners highlight legal concerns and the absence of confirmed arrangements with any airline to facilitate these flights. As the UK prepares to enforce this new legislation, the broader implications for its asylum policy and international standing are yet to be fully assessed.



U.K. passes law to send asylum seekers to Rwanda

The UK has handed hundreds of millions of dollars to France for coastal security and police patrols, yet the small boats containing refugees and migrants keep coming. And two years after former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government first announced a highly contentious plan to send refugees to Rwanda, not a single plane has taken off. A frustrated Rishi Sunak called time on the objectors. Enough is enough. No more prevarication, no more delay. No ifs, no buts. These flights are going to Rwanda. A long day of parliamentary ping-pong ensued, the upper chamber trying to amend the bill, the government using its majority in the lower chamber to block any and all changes. It went on until after midnight, when the Lords finally capitulated, albeit reluctantly. We will this week have a law that provides for the offshore processing and settlement of asylum seekers in Rwanda. Its benefits remain to be seen. Its costs will be measured not only in money, but in principles debased. A bitterly fought victory for the government then, but real questions remain. When exactly will the flights start to take off and how many refugee migrants will actually be on them? And the biggest question of all, will it really act as a deterrent for those seeking to make the crossing from France to the UK in small boats? The government wants the first Rwanda flights to depart in 10 to 12 weeks, but campaigners are not yet ready to give up. For a start, there is a very strong prospect of further legal challenges. We are, after all, still a rule of law country here in Britain. And then secondly, the government can't confirm that it has found an airline to operate those flights. This Rwanda controversy far from being resolved. Paul Brennan, Al Jazeera, Central London.

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