Rwanda Deportation Bill: Lords Insist on Legal Conformity, Delaying Passage
The Rwanda deportation bill, which aims to send 300 asylum seekers to East Africa at a cost of £541m, has been delayed in the House of Commons after the House of Lords passed several amendments.
These amendments are intended to ensure the bill conforms with international and domestic laws, and provide protections for claimants.
The Home Office intends to push the bill through by the end of this week.
The Rwanda asylum and immigration bill was reviewed in the UK's upper chamber, the Lords, where it was subject to several votes.
The bill, which could be presented back to the lower chamber on Wednesday, is expected to delay flights to Rwanda for several weeks.
Peers voted to ensure the bill complies with international and domestic laws, including human rights and modern slavery legislation.
They also required an independent monitoring body to verify the implementation and continuation of protections in the Rwanda treaty before considering Rwanda a safe country.
In a third vote, the Lords insisted on restoring the jurisdiction of domestic courts in relation to Rwanda's safety and enabling them to intervene.
Peers in the UK voted to push for an exemption from deportation to Rwanda for Afghans who have worked with the British military or government.
Shadow ministers Kinnock and Pollard wrote to the government requesting support for an amendment to protect these individuals from deportation.