UK’s House of Lords votes to postpone deportation plan for asylum seekers to Rwanda

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The House of Lords has voted to delay the ratification of a treaty with Kigali, defying Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. Despite Sunak’s urgings, the unelected upper house voted to postpone the ratification until the government proves that Rwanda is a safe country for asylum seekers. The House of Lords does not have the power to block the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill indefinitely, but it could delay the legislation for up to a year. Sunak’s controversial immigration plan is a key part of his bid to return to power in the upcoming general election, but the House of Lords’ vote has complicated his ambitions. Sunak introduced the legislation after the UK Supreme Court ruled that the safety of asylum seekers deported to Rwanda could not be guaranteed. The bill would make it harder for courts to challenge the Rwanda policy and aims to allow the government to set aside certain provisions of human rights law. Despite Sunak’s push for deportations to begin within months, the House of Lords’ vote has thrown a wrench in his plans.

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