A charity that provides legal representation to people seeking asylum says it is considering whether it has any grounds to appeal  this morning’s ruling on deportation flights.

The High Court found today that the government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda for their applications to be considered is lawful. However it referred the eight claimants i back to the home secretary because theirindividual  applications were not properly dealt with.

Speaking after the judgment was handed down, Alison Pickup, director of Asylum Aid, said: ’We’ll be looking closely at this judgment to see if there are any grounds for an appeal.’

Solicitor Carolin Ott of London firm Leigh Day, representing Asylum Aid, added: ’Today’s ruling that the fast-track process to remove refugees to Rwanda is lawful is an immense disappointment to our client. Asylum Aid remains seriously concerned that the curtailed process that has been adopted to forcibly remove asylum seekers from the UK means they will be denied effective access to legal advice and the court.

‘The fact that individual decisions have been deemed unlawful highlights the flaws in the procedure. Although decisions in individual cases have been deemed unlawful, that does not address the serious continuing risk that individuals will not be able to make their case due the curtailed process.

‘Asylum Aid believes that without being allowed enough time to seek legal representation and where appropriate, make their case to the court, many vulnerable individuals will be wrongly removed and sent to a country where a blanket assessment of safety remains questionable. Asylum Aid will be considering its legal options.’

Other organisations also expressed disappointment with this morning’s judgment.

Deputy director of Detention Action James Wilson said: ’We are disappointed that the High Court has found the removal of refugees to an autocratic state which tortures and kills people is lawful. However, we will fight on. The Rwanda policy is brutal and harmful and we will now consider an appeal against today’s judgment.

Law Society president Lubna Shuja said: ‘This policy has far-reaching consequences for those affected and it is absolutely vital each case is properly considered on its facts, as is made clear in today’s judgment

’Whatever the final outcome, we hope the government will commit to taking a measured approach and continue to review its obligations under international and domestic law.

’Our members – solicitors in all areas of law – will be watching carefully to see that access to justice and the rule of law are preserved in whatever steps the government takes next.’

 

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