British government tries to assure UK Supreme Court it's safe to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda

LONDON (AP) — A lawyer sought to assure the U.K. Supreme Court on Monday that the British government had adequately analyzed the risks of sending asylum-seekers to Rwanda and would have people “on the ground” to make sure it's safe and that deportees' rights are protected.

Attorney James Eadie said that the controversial policy was in the public interest of deterring immigrants from risking their lives crossing the English Channel in small boats and to stop smugglers from exploiting them. He said the British government would make sure Rwanda adheres to agreements to comply with the United Nations Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights.

“The appeal is, at its heart, about the judgments made by government about the future conduct of a friendly foreign state," Eadie said. “Both the Government and the Rwandan government were fully aware of the likely controversy of the arrangements that were made when the deal was signed.”

The Conservative government is challenging a Court of Appeal ruling in June that said the policy is unlawful because the East African country is not a safe place to send asylum-seekers. Advocates for migrants from Vietnam, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Sudan contend the policy is unlawful and inhumane.