UK: Court of Appeal to hear bid to prevent Rwanda deportation flights
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A last-ditch legal attempt to block the first deportations of asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda will be heard by the Court of Appeal in London today.
On Friday, the High Court refused to grant an injunction preventing the removal of asylum seekers on a flight to Rwandan capital Kigali tomorrow.
A judicial review against the policy has been brought by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), which represents 80 per cent of Border Force staff, as well as charities Care4Calais and Detention Action and lawyers representing some of the asylum seekers.
They argue, among other things, that the government’s controversial Rwanda policy is unlawful as it penalises asylum seekers on the grounds of their irregular entry, in direct contravention of the 1951 Refugee Convention.
Mr Justice Jonathan Swift refused interim relief pending a ruling on the lawfulness of the government’s policy, which will be determined at a final, expedited hearing.
The claimants, represented by Duncan Lewis Solicitors, will today apply again to the Court of Appeal for a halt on the flight.
A separate case brought by refugee charity Asylum Aid, also seeking an interim injunction to prevent deportation flights, will also be heard by the High Court today.
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