UK’s Rwanda Bill Clears Parliament After Lengthy Battle: Plane Departure Delayed
After navigating through two years of legal and political hurdles, the UK government’s Rwanda bill, aiming to process asylum seekers in Africa, has finally received parliamentary approval. However, despite the bill’s passage, the roar of engines won’t be heard anytime soon.
Although technically, a flight could depart 12 days after receiving royal assent, transforming the bill into law, practical considerations suggest a later timeline. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak anticipates a flight within 10 to 12 weeks, indicating a potential departure in late June or early July.
Acknowledging the delay from the government’s initial spring deadline, Sunak emphasized the necessity of allowing sufficient time for processing. The intended recipients of this initiative are asylum seekers who have arrived in the UK without authorization from another safe country, primarily those crossing the English Channel by dinghy. It’s crucial to note that these individuals are yet to undergo the determination of their refugee status, a procedure slated to occur in Rwanda. Currently, approximately 52,000 individuals fall within this category.