ASYLUM SEEKERS will not be sent to Rwanda to start a new life because it is unlawful, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

It comes after Home Secretary Suella Braverman recently visited the country’s capital Kigali to further hash out the deportation plans earlier this year.

The Illegal Migration Bill would give the government powers to fly refugees to the east African country if they arrived on a small boat instead of granting them asylum in the UK. The hardline policy meant they would also never be able to return. 

Following efforts from human rights campaigners and the bill being blocked by the European Court of Human Rights, the “inhumane” policy will no longer go ahead. 

Lord Burnett, Sir Geoffrey Vos and Lord Justice Underhill made the historic ruling after deeming Rwanda an unsafe country for refugees to begin their lives again. Rwanda has been dogged with claims of human rights abuses.

The outgoing Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett, said: “The High Court’s decision that Rwanda is a safe third country is reversed. Unless and until the deficiencies in its asylum processes are corrected, removal of asylum seekers to Rwanda will be unlawful.”

He added: “Finally, the Court of Appeal makes clear that its decision implies no view whatever about the political merits or otherwise of the Rwanda policy.

“Those are entirely a matter for the government, on which the court has nothing to say.

“The court’s concern is only whether the policy complies with the law as laid down by Parliament.”

The deal, which was struck up under the former Home Secretary Priti Patel, was worth up to £140ml and was deemed one of the toughest legislations on migration.

Campaigners, lawyers and the UN’s refugee agency UNHCR have all hit back at the policy, which many labelled as “racist” and welcomed this morning’s ruling.

Yolande Makolo, spokesperson for the government of Rwanda, told the BBC “While this is ultimately a decision for the UK’s judicial system, we do take issue with the ruling that Rwanda is not a safe country for asylum seekers and refugees.

“Rwanda is one of the safest countries in the world and we have been recognised by the UNHCR and other international institutions for our exemplary treatment of refugees.

“We make a significant contribution to dealing with the impacts of the global migration crisis. Rwandans know what it means to be forced to flee home, and to make a new life in a new country.

“As a society, and as a government, we have built a safe, secure, dignified environment, in which migrants and refugees have equal rights and opportunities as Rwandans.”