The UK’s Labour government has officially ended the controversial deportation policy to Rwanda, confirming that asylum seekers left in limbo under the Rwanda plan will have their claims processed in the UK.
The move follows intense pressure from legal groups and migrant advocates who demanded clarity for thousands affected by the previous government’s policy.
Over 5,000 Asylum Seekers No Longer Facing Deportation
More than 5,000 individuals had been listed for potential removal to Rwanda under a deal established by the former Conservative government. The Labour administration, in one of its first acts, scrapped the Rwanda deportation scheme, which had faced legal challenges and international criticism. However, many of those initially targeted remained in limbo, uncertain of their status after receiving letters stating that deportation might still be possible under future circumstances.
Legal Challenge Prompts Government Policy Shift
The lack of a clear policy led the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) to file a legal challenge, arguing that the government’s vague stance caused unnecessary fear and psychological harm to vulnerable asylum seekers. Hours before a scheduled court hearing, the Home Office issued formal guidance confirming that it had “discontinued inadmissibility action” and that the affected individuals’ asylum claims would now be fully assessed within the UK asylum system.
Those Affected Arrived Between January 2022 and June 2023
The group impacted by this policy reversal mostly arrived in the UK between 1 January 2022 and 29 June 2023, many crossing the English Channel in small boats. Under the previous policy, they had been issued notices of potential removal to Rwanda—a plan Labour has now declared “dead and buried.”
JCWI Welcomes Government’s Confirmation
JCWI solicitor Taher Gulamhussein welcomed the government’s updated guidance, stating: “More than an estimated 2,000 migrants who were left in limbo and uncertainty can finally rest, knowing their asylum claims will only be processed in the UK.”
While the Home Office has not issued further public comment, advocates stress the importance of restoring certainty and justice for people who have already faced traumatic journeys to reach safety.
