Act to be repealed in the current parliamentary session, and all associated policy guidance to be withdrawn
The Home Secretary has confirmed to Asylum Aid that the Government plans to repeal the previous Conservative government's Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024 in the current parliamentary session. The move comes in response to a legal challenge from Asylum Aid against the policy, which sought to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda despite a Supreme Court ruling finding it was unsafe.
Image credit: WikipediaWhile the Labour government had already announced that no asylum seekers would be sent to Rwanda, the Safety of Rwanda Act remained on the statute books, causing concern over its legality and the potential damage to the UK's international standing. Asylum Aid had long argued that the Act undermined the rule of law and contradicted the courts' findings.
The Government's commitment to repeal the Act comes after a consent order in January 2025 confirmed the withdrawal of Asylum Aid's claim against the policy, following assurances from the Home Secretary that no flights to Rwanda would be scheduled.
Alison Pickup, Executive Director of Asylum Aid, said: "We look forward to the government acting on its commitment to roll back the Safety of Rwanda Act as soon as possible during this Parliament. We have seen in real time the disastrous impact of the previous government’s Rwanda plan – it not only had a deeply damaging effect on the mental health of people seeking asylum but put thousands of lives in limbo for over two years. This stands as a clear example of why the UK must never farm its human rights obligations out to third countries. What we need is investment in a fair and effective asylum system, and the establishment of safe routes to protection."
The Home Secretary also confirmed that the associated policy guidance, which instructed officials to ignore evidence of risk for those facing removal to Rwanda, will be withdrawn once the Act is repealed. Asylum Aid's legal challenge had been focused on the unlawful nature of this policy.
Asylum Aid's Stephanie Hill called the move a "significant victory for the rule of law," emphasising that it represented a step towards ensuring that the UK's asylum system treats applicants with dignity and fairness.
Asylum Aid said it hopes the upcoming Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill will further reinforce the principles of fairness and ensure timely access to the asylum process for those in need of protection in the UK.