HIAS+JCORE sign joint civil society statement on Rwanda ruling

HIAS+JCORE has joined 128 organisations in signing a joint statement welcoming today’s Supreme Court decision on the Rwanda plan.

While the statement expresses relief at news that the policy has been ruled unlawful, it also raises concerns about the government’s treatment of people seeking sanctuary in the UK.

Stating that “we know that as a community we are compassionate and welcoming, and we need immigration policies that are rooted in the same care, compassion, and respect for human rights,” it concludes with a call for “everyone to stand up for the rights of people seeking sanctuary”.

Other signatories include the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), the Refugee Council and the Runnymede Trust.

Read the full statement text below:

We are relieved today that the Supreme Court has made the right decision and declared that Rwanda is not a safe country for this government to send people needing safety. The Rwanda plan was always cruel and immoral. We urge the Government to immediately abandon such plans with Rwanda or with any other country, and instead protect the rights of people who have come to our country in search of sanctuary.

While we welcome the decision today, we remain concerned by this Government’s overall treatment of people who move to this country. We are alarmed by this Government’s continuous efforts to detain and forcibly send people to countries where they may not know anyone, especially if it puts them at risk of harm and human rights violations. We know that as a community we are compassionate and welcoming, and we need immigration policies that are rooted in that same care, compassion, and respect for human rights. We call on everyone to stand up for the rights of people seeking sanctuary, regardless of where they come from or how they travel here.