The High Court will hear arguments today on whether or not to grant a last-minute precautionary measure to stop the first flight of asylum seekers scheduled for next week in Rwanda.
Two campaign groups, Detention Action and Care4Calais, join the PCS Union and four individual asylum seekers to initiate legal action.
The Interior Ministry has announced that the first asylum seekers will be sent to Rwanda on Tuesday as part of its new immigration policy.
Lawyers for the groups taking action will argue that the policy puts people’s lives at risk and is an illegal way to treat asylum seekers before deportation and once sent to Rwanda.
Acting groups have demanded that if a ruling favors them, the plane be stopped altogether, so the ruling does not only apply to the asylum seekers they represent.
Sky News is aware of other asylum seekers who have received expulsion notices that are not part of these procedures.
With just a few days to go before the flight, a decision is expected to be made on the day of the hearing.
Care4Calais says it is aware of the ninth round in Afghanistan; 35 Sudanese; 18 Syrians; 14 Iranians; 11 Egyptians, as well as Iraqis, Pakistanis, Algerians, Algerians, Chadians, Eritreans, Turks and Vietnamese who have been told they could board the first flight.
“We hope the courts agree with us”
Clare Moseley, founder of Care4Calais, said: “We have spoken to about 100 detainees who have been told they will be forcibly sent to Rwanda. Almost all of them are overwhelmed by total shock and despair.
“Many came to the UK believing it was a good place to treat them more fairly than the places where they escaped. We say Rwanda’s plan is illegal. We hope the courts agree with us.”
Efforts to obtain a court order are an eleven-hour attempt by activists to stop the flight.
Care4Calais, Detention Action and the PCS union have already issued judicial review proceedings and want the legality of the policy to be checked in court.
Read more: Why are migrants being sent to Rwanda and how will it work? Asylum seekers are “willing to hide” to avoid Rwanda’s plan
The Interior Ministry says it wants to stop trade in human traffickers carrying people through the canal and that sending asylum seekers to Rwanda is part of efforts to “reform” the “broken” system. of the United Kingdom.
The government says it is committed to working with Rwanda to provide security to asylum seekers and those recognized as refugees will be given the opportunity to rebuild their lives.
Anyone whom the Home Office considers to have made a dangerous, unnecessary or illegal trip to the UK would meet the expulsion criteria, apart from solitary migrant children who are exempt.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We remain confident in our position. If legal challenges force us to go to court, we will argue the case.
“It’s true that the first flight is scheduled for next week, so we’re ready to go.”