The UK government is considering stationing British lawyers in Rwandan courts as part of an asylum seeker treaty if Supreme Court allows for the decision to proceed, as it previously ruled the plans unlawful. Following the concerns about the Rwandan justice system, Downing Street stated it would address these worries via a treaty with Kigali.
According to sources within the BBC, Home Secretary, James Cleverly, is expected to travel to Rwanda to finalize and announce an updated deal before spring when the first flights to Rwanda are anticipated. This new policy, first announced in April 2022, includes sending some asylum seekers to Rwanda to claim asylum there. However, amidst concerns about the Rwandan courts honoring an international law principle known as non-refoulment, the UK’s highest court rejected the policy.
To address the Supreme Court’s concerns, the government aims to secure a formal treaty with Rwanda. The treaty is said to have provisions allowing British lawyers to be stationed in Rwandan courts and includes an additional £15m to pay for staff to enhance Rwanda’s asylum processing system. It is worth mentioning that the UK had initially paid the Rwandan government £140m for the scheme. The first flight was meant to occur in June 2022 but was postponed due to legal challenges.
Even though the asylum issue is in discussion, the UK government is also said to introduce significant limitations on legal migration to combat the record-high net migration figures in 2022. Reports suggest that the government might eliminate the list of occupations where foreign workers are hired below standard salary thresholds. Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick has hinted that discussions about introducing a cap on migration are ongoing.
