In a bid to tackle irregular migration and reduce asylum applications, the UK government has come under scrutiny for its controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. The policy, initially proposed by former Home Secretary Priti Patel in 2022, has faced significant legal challenges and opposition from human rights advocates and Labour politicians.

The revamped plan, which authorities have begun implementing, allows for the detention and deportation of migrants to Rwanda, despite concerns about logistical issues and humanitarian considerations. However, critics argue that the policy violates international law and undermines the right to seek asylum, as guaranteed by the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who supported the plan, was subsequently fired in 2023, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to "stop the boats" and vowed to make the policy law. Despite legal challenges that saw the UK Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights rule the proposal unlawful, emergency legislation was introduced to declare Rwanda a safe country for asylum seekers. This legislation, known as the Safety of Rwanda Act, was recently approved and signed into law by King Charles.

The UK government has already paid Rwanda £220 million ($270 million) for the development of infrastructure to process asylum seekers. However, critics argue that the costs could escalate to over half a billion pounds ($627 million) to deport just 300 individuals.

The plan has been heavily criticized for its potential human rights implications. Concerns about refoulement, the forced return of asylum seekers to dangerous conditions in their home countries, have been raised. While the UK-Rwanda treaty includes provisions to prevent such returns, doubts persist about the safety and protection of all individuals sent to Rwanda.

Opposition to the policy extends beyond human rights concerns. Labour politicians have vowed to overturn the policy if they come into power in the upcoming national elections, scheduled for January 2025. Legal challenges within the UK and the possibility of challenges in the European Court of Human Rights pose further obstacles for the plan.

Meanwhile, the UK government is grappling with logistical challenges in implementing the deportation plan. Limited space in immigration removal centers and potential legal barriers to detainment have emerged as significant obstacles. The overcrowding of centers could even lead to people being held in prisons, exacerbating existing overcrowding issues.

The controversial policy has also reportedly led to an increase in migrants fleeing to Ireland, further straining the relationship between the UK and its neighboring EU country. Ireland's justice minister has indicated that emergency legislation may be drafted to return asylum seekers to the UK.

As the government faces backlash, it remains to be seen whether the extreme anti-immigration policy will have the intended political impact for the Conservative Party, which has positioned itself as tough on migration. However, it is clear that the policy has further isolated the UK from the international community and raised concerns about its commitment to human rights and asylum protections.