The Los Angeles Post
California & Local U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: January 15, 2025
Today: January 15, 2025

Parts of UK immigration law not valid in Northern Ireland, High Court rules

FILE PHOTO: Migrants cross the English Channel in small boats
July 02, 2024
Reuters - Reuters

BELFAST (Reuters) -Belfast's High Court ruled on Monday that parts of the United Kingdom's flagship immigration policy should not apply in Northern Ireland as they undermine human rights protections guaranteed in post-Brexit arrangements.

The Illegal Migration Act, passed last year, means those who arrive in the UK illegally are prevented from claiming asylum, instead facing removal either to their home country or a so-called safe third country such as Rwanda.

Judge Michael Humphreys found various aspects of the law, including the removal of asylum seekers, children and victims of human trafficking without any assessment being carried out, were unlawful in Northern Ireland.

Lawyer Sinead Marmion, who represented one of the applicants, a 16-year-old asylum seeker from Iran who travelled to the UK by boat last year, said the ruling would prevent the government from removing such people from Northern Ireland.

Parts of UK immigration law not valid in Northern Ireland, High Court rules
FILE PHOTO: Migrants cross the English Channel in small boats

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it would not affect plans for previously stalled deportation flights leaving for Rwanda in July, but his government would take all steps to defend its position, including through appealing the ruling.

"This judgment changes nothing about our operational plans," Sunak said in a statement. "We continue to work to get regular flights off to Rwanda in the coming weeks and nothing will distract us from that."

The applicants, which also included the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, argued that key parts of the law were incompatible with the post-Brexit Windsor Framework jointly agreed last year by London and Brussels.

The agreement guaranteed that there would be no diminution of human rights protected under Northern Ireland's 1998 Good Friday peace agreement following Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.

The immigration legislation is at the heart of Sunak's pledge to stop asylum seekers from making the dangerous crossing from France to the southern coast of England on small, often unseaworthy boats.

(Reporting by Amanda Ferguson, writing by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Kate Holton, Hugh Lawson and Alex Richardson)

Related

Europe|Political

French Socialist Party raises threat of backing no-confidence vote against government

The French Socialist Party, whose support Francois Bayrou's minority government has been trying to secure for weeks, on Tuesday raised the threat of backing a no-confidence vote

French Socialist Party raises threat of backing no-confidence vote against government
Business|Europe|Technology

Apple, Amazon fight off $600 million UK lawsuit over alleged 'collusion'

Apple and Amazon have successfully fought off a mass lawsuit in Britain over alleged collusion between the tech giants to remove resellers of new Apple products from Amazon's

Apple, Amazon fight off $600 million UK lawsuit over alleged 'collusion'
Business|Environment|Europe|Political|World

Risks from unregulated tanker fleet rising, UN shipping chief says

The safety risks posed by unregulated oil tankers are rising, and the so-called shadow fleet is a threat to both the maritime environment and seafarers, the head of

Risks from unregulated tanker fleet rising, UN shipping chief says
Europe|MidEast|Political

Lebanon's PM designate Nawaf Salam resigns as member of International Court of Justice

Nawaf Salam, who has been designated as the new Prime Minister of Lebanon, has resigned as a member of the International Court of Justice, said the ICJ on Tuesday.

Lebanon's PM designate Nawaf Salam resigns as member of International Court of Justice
Share This

Popular

Business|Economy|Europe|Finance

ECB betting on services prices to get inflation back to target, Lane says

ECB betting on services prices to get inflation back to target, Lane says
Business|Economy|Europe|Finance|Political

UK stagflation risk adds pressure on Reeves after market volatility

UK stagflation risk adds pressure on Reeves after market volatility
Business|Economy|Environment|Europe|Finance|Political

Climate Investment Funds secures $500 million debut bond for clean energy transition

Climate Investment Funds secures $500 million debut bond for clean energy transition
Crime|Entertainment|Europe|Sports

Italian soccer club Lazio fires falconer for posting photos of his penis implant

Italian soccer club Lazio fires falconer for posting photos of his penis implant