The British Parliament has approved controversial plans by the UK government to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. Despite significant criticism over human rights concerns, the law was passed after a lengthy debate that lasted into the early hours of the morning. It is expected that King Charles will soon give royal assent to the law.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to start sending back asylum seekers within twelve weeks. This pertains to individuals who are still in the process of applying for asylum, not illegal migrants or refugees. These individuals will be required to await the outcome of their asylum applications in Rwanda.

The agreement between the United Kingdom and Rwanda, reached in April 2022, involves Rwanda accepting asylum seekers without valid residency permits. Initially, this applies to single men who entered the UK after January 1, 2022, primarily via boats across the English Channel. In exchange, Rwanda will receive hundreds of millions of euros.

The purpose of the measures is to curb illegal immigration, dissuade people from attempting to enter the UK, and deter human traffickers from illegally transporting asylum seekers into the country.

However, the plan has faced significant backlash due to concerns about Rwanda’s human rights record. Human rights organizations and asylum seekers have lodged multiple appeals against the plan. Last summer, the first flight scheduled to deport asylum seekers was halted by an order from the European Court of Human Rights, which stated there was a “real risk of irreparable harm” to the asylum seekers.

The day before, the Court of Appeal in London had ruled that the UK could deport asylum seekers to Rwanda from the airport, but an appeal was filed against that decision.

A new law now allows British judges to treat Rwanda as a safe destination and sets aside certain British human rights statutes in relation to the plan. The government hopes this will override the decision of the higher court. Sunak also stated on Monday that the UK is willing to withdraw from the European Court of Human Rights if it continues to oppose the plan.

Stopping the influx of migrants is a priority for the Conservative government. According to polls, Sunak’s Conservative Party is expected to be defeated by Labour in the upcoming elections later this year, with Labour aiming to scrap the plan if it comes to power.

In recent years, tens of thousands of migrants, many fleeing wars and poverty in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, have arrived in the United Kingdom by crossing the English Channel in small boats. These dangerous journeys are often organized by human smugglers. The “Rwanda plan” is intended to discourage such crossings.