The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom ruled that the UK government’s plan to send over 24,000 refugees to Rwanda is unlawful. Lower courts had previously ruled that the plan violated international law, as it put asylum seekers at risk of being returned to their home countries. This ruling is a blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s migration policy and could create division within the ruling Conservative party. Those affected by the policy are relieved by the outcome and express their hopes of staying in the UK to work and continue their studies. The plan to send refugees to Rwanda was part of an immigration policy aimed at deterring people from crossing the English Channel to the UK. Despite the British government’s insistence that Rwanda is a safe destination for refugees, experts and activists have expressed concerns about Rwanda’s ability to handle a large influx of asylum seekers. Rwanda currently hosts 135,000 refugees and has faced criticism for its treatment of refugees and its human rights record. The UK government had planned to pay Rwanda to host the refugees, but questions remained about who would cover the costs once the initial five-year period was over. The ruling has halted the controversial plan, which has sparked debate about the responsibility of countries to provide protection for people fleeing persecution.