UK Home Secretary James Cleverly has signed a new treaty with Rwanda as part of the Conservative Party’s efforts to revive their failed plan to address the issue of migrant inflow. The plan, which aims to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, is a crucial component of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s strategy to prevent migrants from arriving in the UK and demonstrate that the government is taking action. Sunak has faced criticism for the record-high levels of net legal immigration in the UK last year. The treaty, signed on Tuesday, is intended to resolve the immigration problems faced by Sunak. The revived plan seeks to send asylum seekers who arrive in the UK to Rwanda in order to alleviate criticism of the government’s ineffective asylum efforts. Cleverly expressed his expectation that migrants would be sent to Rwanda in the coming months, stating that the new treaty has addressed the concerns raised by the UK Supreme Court. The new treaty, which replaces a previous memorandum of understanding between the UK and Rwanda on this matter, was signed in anticipation of emergency legislation that will be introduced in Westminster this week to counter the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that the Rwanda policy is illegal. Under Sunak’s plan, the UK plans to send thousands of asylum seekers who arrive without permission to Rwanda in order to deter migrants from crossing the Channel from Europe on small boats, thus addressing the migrant crisis in the country. “Stop the boats” is one of Sunak’s five goals to halt the flow of asylum seekers. However, the UK Supreme Court recently ruled that asylum seekers sent to Rwanda face a real risk of being returned to their home countries without a proper assessment of their claims. Nevertheless, the new treaty reportedly ensures that anyone sent to Rwanda will be granted permanent leave to remain there, even if their asylum application is unsuccessful, allowing them to work and access public services. The UK government intended to send its first group of migrants to Rwanda last summer, but the flight was canceled due to legal issues raised by the Court regarding the UK’s obligations to refugees under domestic and international law. Legal experts argue that Rwanda’s human rights record means that the government’s contentious policy is likely to face legal and parliamentary challenges. The UK Labour Party’s home affairs spokeswoman, Yvette Cooper, dismissed the government’s attempts to revive the Rwanda plan as a mere gimmick and stated that Labour intends to abandon the plan if it wins in the upcoming general elections. The latest public survey in the UK indicates that migration ranks among the top three concerns of the British electorate, along with the economy and health, ahead of the anticipated general election next year. The Labour Party currently holds a double-digit lead in the polls. Meanwhile, Rwanda has received an initial payment of £140 million ($180 million) and expects additional funding to cover the accommodation and care of the planned asylum seekers being deported to the country. Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta defended the government’s actions, stating that they were doing the right thing despite unfair treatment by international organizations, the media, and the courts. He also emphasized the need to address the root causes that drive people to leave their homelands.
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