All at Asylum Welcome – and most importantly, the individuals we work with who are fleeing persecution – are pleased and greatly relieved by today’s ruling.
As we awaited the judgment, the heart-wrenching testimony of the terrified asylum seekers who were forced onto a plane bound for Rwanda in June 2022 (before the legal challenge caused the flight’s last-minute cancellation) kept playing in our minds.
They wept and prayed and said goodbye to their families. Then they were handcuffed and had their legs shackled. One man fainted and had to be carried onboard in a wheelchair. Away from the serene world of the courts, this is what such policies mean.
Today is a moment of relief for all who stand for fairness and compassion.
This landmark ruling confirms the widespread belief among people of conscience that the cruel Rwanda plan was never an acceptable solution. What was always immoral has now been confirmed as unlawful. It is now imperative for the government to abandon any plans involving Rwanda or any other country that compromises the protection of individuals’ rights.
Today’s judgement cannot undo the distress and anxiety already experienced by people, including our clients, who received Rwanda removal directions. They are now caught in a no man’s land. Urgent clarity is needed as to whether their claims can be processed within the UK system or if the government will continue to attempt to send them elsewhere.
Overall, the current immigration system is unfit for purpose, and we remain deeply concerned about the government’s continued efforts to detain and forcibly deport individuals to countries where they face significant risks. The backlog of asylum cases is enormous, and even those who are accepted as refugees are increasingly vulnerable to homelessness. As a community, we value compassion and inclusivity, yet our immigration policies fail to align with these core principles.
We urge people of good faith to come together and advocate for a system that prioritises care, compassion, and respect for human rights. The time for change is long overdue.
