Illegal Migration Act & Rwanda Plan
Over the past two years, the UK Government has introduced a series of laws and policies designed to make most people’s asylum claims inadmissible and forcibly send those affected to Rwanda.
On 22nd April 2024, the Prime Minister announced plans to start sending asylum seekers to Rwanda in the next 10-12 weeks. JRS UK will continue to campaign for the UK to uphold its responsibility towards refugees.
Here, we've collated news and resources that you might find useful.
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Updates
Resources
Updates
2024
8th July 2024: Overthe weekend, the Labour government announced the scrapping of the Rwanda Plan. Dr Sophie Cartwright, Senior Policy Officer, comments.
29th April 2024: Jesuit Refugee Service calls for solidarity amid reports that the Home Office is launching a major operation to detain people in preparation for their deportation to Rwanda.
23rd April 2024: JRS UK and JRS Europe issue a join statement on the passing of the Rwanda Bill.
JRS UK is one of over 250 organisations who have signed this open letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak following the passage of the misleadingly named ‘Safety of Rwanda Act’. This is a shameful and perfomatively cruel law that will risk people’s lives.
22nd April 2024: This morning, the Prime Minister announced plans to start sending asylum seekers to Rwanda in the next 10-12 weeks. Sarah Teather, Director, and Naomi Blackwell, Detention Outreach Manager, respond to this troubling news.
29th January 2024: JRS UK are one of over 250 charities and organisations who have signed a Joint Civil Society statement on the Rwanda Bill for Second Reading in the House of Lords.
15th January 2024: The government’s Bill declaring Rwanda to be a safe place for refugees seeking asylum returns to the House of Commons this week, for its Committee Stage. Sophie, Senior Policy Officer, reflects on why this is worrying.
2023
15th November: This morning, the Rwanda plan was ruled unlawful. JRS UK welcomes this Supreme Court decision.
24th July: The Refugee Ban is now law. Sophie, Senior Policy Officer at JRS UK, reflects on the evils of the Illegal Migration Act and where we can go from here.
18th July: The Illegal Migration Bill has passed. Sarah Teather, Director of JRS UK, responds to the passing of this wantonly cruel Ban on Asylum.
JRS UK have joined with a coalition of 290 organisations across a breadth of sectors to condemn the passage of the Illegal Migration Act today. We will continue to stand in solidarity with all those who will be affected. Either all of us have human rights, or none of us do.
7th July: The Illegal Migration Bill has completed Report Stage in the House of Lords and is returning to the Commons next week. Sophie Cartwright, Senior Policy Officer, writes with an update on what you can do to stand in solidarity wtih refugees, and how you can call on the Refugee Ban Bill to be struck down.
4th July: The Illegal Migration Bill is now at Report Stage in the House of Lords. This is the key opportunity for Lords to amend the Bill before it is sent back to the House of Commons. Sophie Cartwright, Senior Policy Officer, summarises some key amendments made by the Lords. When the Bill goes back to the House of Commons, MP will have the chance to accept, reject, or amend these amendments. Sophie talks about the importance of writing to your MP. Find resources to help you with this below.
29th June: Today, the Court of Appeal ruled that transferring asylum seekers to Rwanda is not legal. Sarah Teather comments on the court’s judgement, and we give a brief summary of the background to the Rwanda flights.
13th June: On 11th June a new report by the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) stated that the “Illegal Migration Bill” would “deny the vast majority of refugees access to the UK’s asylum system” and “breaches the object and purpose of the Refugee Convention”. Sarah Teather comments on the JCHR findings.
16th May: The Illegal Migration Bill is currently in the House of Lords. Sophie Cartwright provides a brief update.
29th March: Yesterday, the government’s ‘Illegal Migration Bill’ passed Committee Stage in the House of Commons. We share what we know now, and what we’re still asking.
7th March: Today, the Home Secretary made a statement introducing the government’s proposed ‘Illegal Migration Bill’. We share what we know so far and key questions we need to ask.
6th March: The Government is expected to launch it’s most draconian anti-refugee legislation yet. Sarah Teather comments on the proposed bill and some initial concerns ahead of the Bill being released.
Resources
Joint civil society statement on the Rwanda Bill for Second Reading in the House of Lords (January 2024) – JRS has joined with over 250 charities and organisations working to protect people’s rights in signing this statement, calling for the House of Lords to reject the Bill at Second Reading.
Joint briefing on the Illegal Migration Bill for Common consideration of Lords amendments (updated 10th July 2023) – JRS has joined with over 60 other charities, NGOs, and human rights organisations to endorse this briefing, which outlines amendment on complaince with international obligations.
The Illegal Migration Bill: Key points for writing to your MP (updated 4th July 2023) – this information sheet by JRS UK and SVP, writte whilst the Bill is in Report Stage in the House of Lords, will help you to write to your MP to tell them you don’t want a refugee ban bill.
Briefing by JRS UK and SVP on the Illegal Migration Bill (updated 23rd May 2023) – this briefing for MPs, updated before the Bill commences Committee Stage in the House of Lords on 24th May 2023, summarises what the Bill is proposing to do.
Advocacy guide for talking to your MP (updated April 2023) – this document outlines what a positive, human-centred asylum system looks like, and some key points you might want to raise when talking to your MP or others.
Visit our Advocacy page to find more resources on the asylum system and what you can do to advocate.
