RISHI Sunak’s landmark Rwanda plan has finally been signed into law – meaning the first migrants earmarked for removal can be detained.
King Charles’ constitutional approval for the deportation scheme was announced in the House of Lords this morning.
It gives legal backing for the PM’s intention to send small boat migrants to Kigali from early July.
Because there is a realistic prospect of deportation to Rwanda, officials can begin the process of detaining the initial tranche of migrants they have identified for removal.
Many will be in taxpayer-funded hotels that are costing around £8million every day to house.
Ministers are braced for lawyers to launch legal challenges against those earmarked for the first flights to Rwanda.
They previously insisted their law – which declares Rwanda a safe country – would force courts to throw out around 95 per cent of all legal claims.
Mr Sunak this week insisted the groundwork has been prepared for a “regular rhythm” of removal flights throughout the summer until the election.
He said an airfield has been secured along with a chartered airline to fly illegal migrants to Kigali.
The PM is under pressure to stop Channel crossings, with numbers up 24 per cent on the same period last year.
Five migrants drowned this week trying to make the perilous journey in rickety dinghies from France.
Rishi Sunak hopes it will be third time lucky on law to stop the boats
By JACK ELSOM, Chief Political Correspondent
FIVE months after the Supreme Court appeared to have sunk the Rwanda plan, it is now back on track.
The Safety of Rwanda Act – that becomes law today – is the third piece of legislation designed to stop small boats in two years.
Rishi Sunak is confident that this one is finally tough enough to make deportations to Kigali a viable threat, and therefore deter illegal migrants making the dangerous Channel crossing.
He insists both Britain and Rwanda are ready for the first flights to take off in July to kickstart a “regular rhythm” of planes.
The process of detaining those migrants earmarked for the first flights can now begin, although the Home Office is remaining tight-lipped over how they have been selected.
One thing for certain is that an army of lawyers are gearing up to launch legal challenges on behalf of those individuals scheduled for removal.
The threshold they have to meet is that migrants face a risk of “serious and irreversible harm” by being sent to Kigali.
Ministers previously insisted that the Safety of Rwanda Act would force courts to throw out around 95 per cent of all claims.
Time will tell if the legislation is as watertight as they hope – and whether it proves to be an effective deterrent for those considering piling into small boats.
The PM also faces pressing questions over his plans for the tens of thousands of illegal migrants here in the UK with no chance of asylum.
Although the Rwanda scheme is technically uncapped, it seems unlikely that many will be sent there any time soon.
But if serious numbers are removed – and it has a tangible impact on Channel crossings – then Mr Sunak will have something to sell to voters heading into the election.
And it will open up a clear dividing line with Labour, who have said they would scrap the scheme altogether.