Rwanda's scheme aims to deter migrants from illegally crossing the English Channel into the UK. Photo: Chris J. Ratcliffe/Reuters
The first deportation flight from Rwanda could begin on July 1, according to a court document.
This is the first time a specific start date has been discussed for the government's flagship program, which aims to deter migrants from crossing the border illegally. Channel to the UK.
The revelation came on Friday after the High Court rejected ministers' request for more time to prepare for a legal challenge to the scheme.
The Association First Division, a trade union for civil servants, has launched a judicial review into whether officials carrying out ministerial orders to flout possible European Court of Human Rights bans on the flights would be contrary to international law and, by extension, the Civil Service Code.
The judge, Mr Chamberlain, said the government had said “the earliest removal is expected to occur between July 1 and July 15.”
Ruling that the case should be expedited to a hearing in early June, he said there was “strong public interest” in the First Division Association's case being heard well before the first flight is scheduled to take place.
July 1 is in line with the schedule set by Rishi Sunak last month after the government finally managed to push the Rwanda Bill through parliament. On April 22, the Prime Minister said: “The first flight will depart in 10 to 12 weeks.”
A source close to Home Secretary James Cleverley told The Telegraph: “We will remain fully focused as we work to the schedule set by the Prime Minister.”
Talking to The Telegraph, Mr Cleverley said civil servants had a duty to follow ministerial decisions. Asked about the legal action, he said: “The role of the civil service is to implement government decisions. This is really clear and unambiguous.
“That’s how the British system works. You have a politically impartial civil service that delivers on the commitments made by the elected government. It should remain that way.”
In addition, the charity Asylum Aid said it was preparing legal action over the plan in Rwanda. It alleges that caseworkers tasked with deciding who will go to Rwanda were given instructions that meant they would effectively ignore evidence of harm, despite a duty to take it into account.
Alison Pickup, Director of Asylum, said: “We have brought this action to ensure that the Home Office gives due consideration to any individual cases against removal to Rwanda, including on the basis that they will be returned from Rwanda to the place where they fled.”
Defending Rwanda's scheme, Mr Cleverly said: “The fact is that we have an obligation to protect our borders, to protect the integrity of our borders, and we will do that.
“It is the right thing to do for the people of this country, and it is also a moral imperative to discourage people from falling into the hands of evil criminal gangs who have no regard for their safety.”
Last week, immigration officials began detaining migrants ahead of planned deportations from Rwanda. Photos and videos released by the Home Office show uniformed immigration officers carrying out the early morning raid.
A Home Office spokesman said: “The first illegal migrants set to be deported to Rwanda have now been detained by highly trained teams following a series of nationwide operations this week.
“We will begin flights to Rwanda in the next nine to 11 weeks, which will create a deterrent effect that will help disrupt the people smuggling business model and stop the boats.”< /p>
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