The UK government is poised to push through the Rwanda deportation bill despite facing opposition and amendments from the House of Lords. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is keen to implement the legislation, which aims to send asylum seekers arriving by small boats across the Channel to Rwanda, considering the African nation a safe country for such deportations. This decision follows a Supreme Court ruling that previously deemed the plan unlawful due to concerns over human rights. The House of Commons recently voted to reject all ten amendments proposed by the Lords, which included measures to ensure compliance with both domestic and international law and to delay the designation of Rwanda as a safe country until specific criteria are met.

Labour Party members have criticized the scheme’s high costs, with MP Neil Coyle highlighting the disproportionate expense of deportations compared to sending people to space with Virgin Galactic. Despite these critiques, the government remains steadfast in its support for the bill, with Home Office Minister Michael Tomlinson defending Rwanda’s record on refugee integration and emphasizing the need to protect the UK’s borders.

The bill’s progression has been marked by a series of Parliamentary battles, with further discussions anticipated in the House of Lords before the legislation can be finalized. The government aims to initiate the first deportation flights by spring 2024, arguing that the scheme is essential for deterring illegal migration and addressing the crisis of small boats crossing the Channel. Critics, however, continue to raise concerns about the bill’s costs, its compliance with human rights standards, and the safety of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda.