Asylum Aid, along with legal support and union backing, contests the UK Home Office’s Rwanda deportation policy, citing risks and legal concerns as it faces scrutiny in the courts.
Asylum Aid, a charity dedicated to assisting torture victims, is taking legal action against the UK Home Office over concerns regarding the Rwanda asylum scheme. The charity argues that the policy may cause asylum seekers to be unjustly denied entry into the UK asylum system.
The Home Office has instructed caseworkers to consider Rwanda as a safe destination, despite claims and evidence suggesting risks associated with subsequent deportations to dangerous countries from Rwanda. Asylum Aid alleges that the policy does not adequately protect refugees and fails to allow a fair opportunity for migrants to present evidence of individual risk. Following a previous Supreme Court ruling that declared the initial plan unlawful, the charity demands a reassessment of individual deportation cases to Rwanda.
Alison Pickup, Executive Director of Asylum Aid, underscored the need for the proper evaluation of individual cases to prevent returning people to perilous situations. The charity’s concerns were supported by Tessa Gregory, a partner at the law firm Leigh Day, who highlighted the potential unlawful impact of the policy on asylum seekers.
Adding to the legal challenges, the First Division Association (FDA), a union representing senior civil servants, has also initiated an action questioning the legal compliance of the Rwanda policy with international law and the Civil Service Code. The FDA’s case is scheduled for a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London from June 4 to 7, 2024.
The Home Office has yet to respond to the accusations, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak aims to have deportation flights to Rwanda operational by July. The outcome of these legal challenges might influence the future execution of the UK’s deportation scheme under the Safety of Rwanda Act.
