The first flight taking asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda can go ahead, the High Court has ruled.
Migrants due to be given a one-way ticket to the east African nation as part of Home Secretary Priti Patel's bid to curb Channel crossings - as well as campaign groups and a union - asked judges to block their upcoming deportation flight.The court heard 31 people were due on the first flight on Tuesday, with the Home Office planning to schedule more this year.
Judge Mr Justice Swift ruled against the claim and said: "I do not consider that the balance of convivence favours the grant of the generic relief." During the proceedings it emerged the Home Office had already cancelled removal directions for three people set to be on the first flight and that a further two will also have them cancelled.During the hearing, Raza Husain QC, for the claimants, told the court the "procedure is simply unsafe" and called for an evidence-based assessment for the policy, "not an aspirational basis, or hopes".
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