UK takes heat over deportation policy

GENEVA: The UK faced a barrage of questions and criticism of its migration and poverty policies in a UN review of its human rights record yesterday.

Luxembourg’s ambassador Marc Bichler called London’s plan to send asylum seekers who arrive in Britain to Rwanda a violation of international law that “risks causing irreparable harm to those seeking international protection”. The US also questioned the policy.

Mike Freer, a junior minister in Britain’s Justice Department, said Rwanda was a safe and secure country with a track record of supporting refugees. No deportations have yet taken place.