UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s plan to deport some migrants to Rwanda finally cleared Parliament early Tuesday, shortly after he announced that deportation flights would commence in July.
The bill had been delayed for two months due to a deadlock in Parliament, which was resolved just after midnight when the House of Lords accepted the superiority of the elected House of Commons and relinquished its remaining amendments.
This cleared the path for the legislation to be enacted.
Earlier that day, in a rare morning press conference, Sunak urged the Lords to stop obstructing his primary measure to halt the flow of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats.
He declared that Parliament would not adjourn until the bill was passed.
The plan has faced numerous obstacles, including adverse court decisions and resistance from human rights groups who condemn it as illegal and inhumane. Despite this, migrant advocates have pledged to keep fighting the policy.
Sunak expressed his frustration with the delays, stating, “For almost two years, our opponents have used every trick in the book to block flights and keep the boats coming,” emphasizing the need to end procrastination and delays.
The UK Home Office has reported a record number of unauthorized migrants crossing the English Channel in a single day since the beginning of 2024.
According to British news outlet Sky News, 534 migrants arrived in 10 boats this past Sunday, bringing the total number of arrivals this year to 6,265.
This recent surge represents a 28% increase compared to the same period last year.
The continuing rise in crossings highlights the ongoing challenges facing the UK in managing migration and border control.
