The British Home Secretary, James Cleverly, traveled to Rwanda's capital, Kigali, on Tuesday to sign a new treaty with the East African country. The treaty aims to address the recent court decision that blocked the UK government's policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda. This controversial plan has been central to the government's strategy to reduce migration and has drawn attention from other nations considering similar measures.

The Supreme Court in the United Kingdom ruled last month that the government's proposed deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda would violate international human rights laws. In response to this ruling, the UK has been working to renegotiate its agreement with Rwanda, seeking a binding treaty that ensures asylum seekers sent to Rwanda will not be expelled, which was a major concern raised by the court.

During his meeting with Rwanda's foreign minister, Vincent Biruta, Cleverly expressed confidence that the newly signed treaty adequately addressed the concerns raised by the Supreme Court. He emphasized that no additional funds had been given to Rwanda, as the treaty was an upgrade of the existing memorandum of understanding.

The UK's plan involves sending thousands of asylum seekers who arrived in the country without permission to Rwanda, with the intention of deterring others from making dangerous crossings of the English Channel from Europe in small boats. In exchange, Rwanda has received an initial payment of £140 million ($180 million), with the promise of further funding to support the accommodation and care of deported individuals.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing mounting pressure to reduce net migration and put an end to the influx of asylum seekers who rely on people smugglers for their Channel crossings. In an interview with Sky News, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick argued that those arriving on small boats were effectively breaking into the country and that the law prohibited entering the UK illegally.

The UK government also announced plans to reduce legal routes for migration, raising the minimum salary requirements for skilled jobs. Additionally, new legislation declaring Rwanda a "safe country" is expected to be published soon, aiming to prevent legal challenges against the planned deportation flights.

The Supreme Court's ruling deemed the government's scheme to send asylum seekers to Rwanda unlawful, citing concerns about the potential incorrect assessment of refugee claims or their return to countries where they may face persecution. The plan was found to violate international undertakings, including the European Convention on Human Rights, the United Nations' Refugee Convention, and the Convention against Torture.

Within the Conservative Party, there are growing tensions regarding how to respond to this ruling, with some members of parliament calling for the UK to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights. These calls come after the European Court of Human Rights initially halted the deportation flights.

As of now, no asylum seekers have been sent to Rwanda as part of the policy announced by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. This year alone, nearly 29,000 people have arrived on the southern coast of England without permission, surpassing the record of 45,755 arrivals in 2022.

The signed treaty between the UK and Rwanda marks a significant development in the government's efforts to tackle the issue of migration and asylum seekers. However, the controversy surrounding the policy and the ongoing tensions within the Conservative Party make it a topic of continued scrutiny and discussion.