Asylum seekers: First deportation flights to Rwanda in 10 to 12 weeks
Sunak announces first flights to Rwanda in 10 to 12 weeks, missing spring target
UK government has suffered five defeats in the House of Lords over its bill to revive its proposed Rwanda deportation scheme
The first flights deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda will take off in 10 to 12 weeks, Rishi Sunak has announced - missing his original spring target.
The Prime Minister said the flights would start "as soon as possible" but acknowledged the legal challenges that had delayed the scheme.
The UK government wants to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda as part of a plan to deter people from making dangerous journeys across the Channel in small boats.
It is trying to pass new legislation to allow the scheme to go ahead, but the government has suffered five defeats in the House of Lords over its bill to revive its proposed Rwanda deportation scheme.
The government's plans have been criticized by human rights groups, who say they are inhumane and will not deter people from seeking asylum in the UK.
But the government says the scheme is necessary to break the business model of people smugglers and protect lives.
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