High Court rules Rwanda policy as lawful

The Home Secretary has said she is “committed” to making the plan to send migrants to Rwanda work after the High Court ruled that the policy is lawful.
Mason Boycott-Owen
By Mason Boycott-Owen
Published 19th Dec 2022, 17:44 BST

Several challenges were brought against the proposals announced by then-home secretary Priti Patel in April, which she described as a “world-first agreement” with the east African nation in a bid to deter migrants from crossing the Channel.

The first deportation flight – due to take off on June 14 – was then grounded amid a series of objections against individual removals and the policy as a whole.

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However, at the High Court in London on Monday, senior judges rejected arguments that the plans to provide one-way tickets to Rwanda were unlawful.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman making a statement to MPs in the House of Commons, London. Ms Braverman has said she is "committed" to making the plan to send migrants to Rwanda work after the High Court ruled that the policy is lawful. Several challenges were brought against the proposals announced by then-home secretary Priti Patel in April, which she described as a "world-first agreement" with the east African nation in a bid to deter migrants from crossing the Channel. Picture date: Monday December 19, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story COURTS Rwanda. Photo credit should read: House of Commons/PA WireHome Secretary Suella Braverman making a statement to MPs in the House of Commons, London. Ms Braverman has said she is "committed" to making the plan to send migrants to Rwanda work after the High Court ruled that the policy is lawful. Several challenges were brought against the proposals announced by then-home secretary Priti Patel in April, which she described as a "world-first agreement" with the east African nation in a bid to deter migrants from crossing the Channel. Picture date: Monday December 19, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story COURTS Rwanda. Photo credit should read: House of Commons/PA Wire
Home Secretary Suella Braverman making a statement to MPs in the House of Commons, London. Ms Braverman has said she is "committed" to making the plan to send migrants to Rwanda work after the High Court ruled that the policy is lawful. Several challenges were brought against the proposals announced by then-home secretary Priti Patel in April, which she described as a "world-first agreement" with the east African nation in a bid to deter migrants from crossing the Channel. Picture date: Monday December 19, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story COURTS Rwanda. Photo credit should read: House of Commons/PA Wire

Lord Justice Lewis, sitting with Mr Justice Swift, dismissed the challenges against the policy as a whole, but ruled in favour of eight asylum seekers, finding the Government had acted wrongly in their individual cases.

However, he said the Home Secretary “has not properly considered” the eight individuals’ cases, which meant the decisions to send them to Rwanda will be quashed and sent back to be reconsidered.

Following the ruling, Suella Braverman said she has “always maintained that this policy is lawful and today the court has upheld this”.

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She said: “Our ground-breaking migration partnership with Rwanda will provide individuals relocated with support to build new lives there, while disrupting the business model of people-smuggling gangs putting lives at risk through dangerous and illegal small boat crossings.”

“I am committed to making this partnership work – my focus remains on moving ahead with the policy as soon as possible and we stand ready to defend against any further legal challenge,” the Home Secretary added.

Related topics:RwandaPriti PatelHigh CourtGovernmentSuella Braverman