How is the U.K. deporting migrants to Rwanda?

Source-This post on How is the U.K. deporting migrants to Rwanda? is based on the article “How is the U.K. deporting migrants to Rwanda?” published in “The Hindu” on 8th May 2024.

Why in the News?

The UK is deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda under a new law. This new law aims to address undocumented migration.

What is happening?

1) The British authorities have initiated deportations of asylum seekers to Rwanda under a voluntary return scheme as per a new immigration law.

2) The deportation scheme follows a deal struck between the UK and Rwanda in April 2022 to address issues related to undocumented migration.

Reasons Behind the Deportations:

1) Immigration Law: The deportations are in accordance with a newly passed immigration law by the UK Parliament. This allows authorities to remove “unauthorised” asylum seekers who arrived in UK since January 1, 2022.

2) Bilateral Agreement: The UK and Rwanda’s agreement aims to manage undocumented migration and provide solutions for asylum seekers.

Legal and Social Implications:

The deportations to Rwanda under the voluntary returns scheme raise legal, social, and ethical considerations concerning refugee rights, bilateral agreements, and international migration management.

1) Legal Challenges: The initial relocation policy faced legal challenges, leading to its declaration as unlawful by the UK Supreme Court. This necessitated the establishment of a new agreement with Rwanda to ensure compliance with legal standards.

2) Safety Concerns: There are questions about the safety and rights of asylum seekers deported to Rwanda. There are also concerns about human rights violations and the treatment of refugees in the country.

3) Development Funding: Rwanda receives development funding from the UK as part of the asylum plan. This raises questions about the ethical implications of financial incentives in managing refugee populations.

UPSC Syllabus: International Relation