In April 2022, it was announced that some asylum seekers would be sent to Rwanda in order to claim asylum.

Rwanda may grant them refugee status so that they can stay there. They can also apply for asylum in another “safe third country” if the situation does not permit them to settle there on other grounds.

According to the government, the plan will deter people from entering the UK through “illegal, dangerous or unnecessary methods”, such as small boats crossing the English Channel.

The highest number of people have come to the UK through this route since records began in 2022, more than 45,700.

Compared to the same time last year, the number of small boat crossings was about 20% lower by September 2023.

As of yet, no asylum seeker has been sent to Rwanda. It was originally scheduled to take off in June 2022, but was cancelled after legal challenges.

Removing asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful “unless and until” those deficiencies have been corrected.

Additionally, the ruling found that Rwanda’s policy violated Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits torture and inhuman treatment.