Britain's King Charles grants approval to legislation allowing asylum seekers to be sent to Rwanda

NEW DELHI: Britain's King Charles has granted his approval to the legislation that is crucial for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's strategy to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.

The stage of royal assent marks the conclusion of the legislative process, and essentially 'rubber stamps' the decision made by parliament earlier this week to approve the bill following a lengthy battle between the government and opponents of the plan.

The announcement of the Royal Assent took place in the House of Lords on Thursday, signifying that the 'Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill' will now become law.

The legislation was approved by parliament in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Sunak mentioned on Monday that he anticipated the first flights to Rwandan to take off in 10 to 12 weeks after it was passed.

What is Rwanda Policy?

With an increase in asylum-seekers arriving across the English Channel, the Conservative government vowed to halt this trend. Many of these arrivals, using small and often unsafe boats, seek asylum in Britain. In response, the government introduced the Rwanda policy, stating that those arriving via irregular means would not be eligible for asylum in Britain. Instead, they would be detained and sent to Rwanda for their asylum cases to be processed. The government claimed this policy will deter dangerous crossings, but some experts dispute this.

The origins of this policy trace back to early 2021, when Prime Minister Boris Johnson began discussing plans to send asylum-seekers abroad. This initiative aligns with the promises made during the Brexit campaign in 2016. The Nationality and Borders Bill, introduced by Priti Patel in 2021, criminalized irregular entry into the country and expanded authorities' powers to arrest and remove asylum-seekers.

By April 2022, a deal was struck with Rwanda to accept asylum-seekers in exchange for development funding. Legal challenges ensued, leading to a Supreme Court ruling against deporting asylum-seekers to Rwanda. However, the Safety of Rwanda Bill and a treaty sought to override this ruling by declaring Rwanda safe.

Although no asylum-seekers have been sent yet, Britain has committed substantial funds to Rwanda. The opposition has criticized the high costs, suggesting the money would be better spent on bolstering border security.