British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Monday the first flight carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda would leave in 10-12 weeks, as he set out plans for for his flagship policy to tackle illegal migration.

By Blessing Nweke

The long-standing standoff over the government’s plan to process asylum seekers in Rwanda has reached a critical juncture, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak adamant that the controversial policy will become law, even if it entails marathon voting sessions in Parliament.

For the past four months, the House of Lords has consistently blocked the government’s proposal, prompting heated debates and numerous votes. Despite repeated attempts by the House of Commons to push the legislation forward, the Lords have stood firm in their opposition.

In a bold statement on Friday, Prime Minister Sunak declared an end to the delays, asserting, “We will sit there and vote until it’s done.” This determination underscores the government’s commitment to seeing the legislation through, regardless of the hurdles.

At the heart of the contentious bill is the government’s plan to restrict legal challenges to its asylum processing scheme in Rwanda and facilitate the deportation of refugees who have entered the UK through unauthorized means. While the House of Commons has approved the legislation multiple times, the Lords have demanded significant amendments, including exemptions for asylum seekers from Afghanistan who assisted British troops.

The deadlock between the two Houses shows no signs of abating, with each side refusing to yield ground. The impasse centers on key amendments sought by the Lords, such as delaying flights until certain safeguards are met and ensuring protections for vulnerable individuals.

Dubbed the Safety of Rwanda Bill, the proposed legislation has been hailed by Sunak as “emergency legislation” aimed at deterring illegal immigration. The government contends that processing asylum seekers in Rwanda will serve as a deterrent for those attempting to cross the English Channel by boat.

Despite its purported benefits, critics have raised concerns about the scheme’s legality and potential risks to individuals’ safety. The bill’s opponents argue that it undermines human rights laws and compromises the independence of the judiciary.

The saga surrounding the Rwanda scheme dates back to April 2022 when it was initially introduced by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. However, legal challenges and opposition from various quarters have thwarted its implementation thus far.

Following a landmark ruling by the UK Supreme Court in November 2023, which deemed the scheme unlawful, the government introduced the Safety of Rwanda bill to address legal ambiguities and reaffirm Rwanda’s status as a safe destination for asylum processing.

As the legislative battle rages on, Sunak’s insistence on pushing the bill through Parliament signals a determined effort to realize the government’s immigration objectives. Whether the deadlock will be resolved through compromise or prolonged debate remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the fate of asylum processing in Rwanda hangs in the balance as MPs and Lords prepare for another round of deliberations.