Britain’s King Charles on Thursday, the 25th of April, approved a government scheme backing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, bringing the final stage of the legislative process to a close with royal assent, after parliament approved the bill earlier this week following a contentious battle between the government and opponents, reports Reuters.
Royal Assent was announced in the House of Lords on Thursday, meaning the Rwanda Security (Asylum and Immigration) Bill will now become law.
Parliament approved the bill early on Tuesday morning,
the same day five migrants, including a child, died trying to cross the busy English Channel from France to Britain in a crowded boat carrying 112 people.
Since 2018, tens of thousands of people have attempted to cross the Channel to the UK. In response, the UK has spent two years overcoming opposition to a controversial policy aimed at deterring asylum seekers from making such dangerous journeys by sending them to Rwanda.
Prime Minister Sunak announced that the first flights to Rwanda could start in 10 to 12 weeks after the passage of the bill.
Under the Rwandan plan, anyone who entered the UK illegally after the 1st of January 2022 would be sent to Rwanda, which is around 6 400 km away. According to official figures, more than 50 000 people have arrived since that date.
Also read: Sunak vows to keep on fighting after Rwanda asylum plan fails in court
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