Responding to the Supreme Court’s ruling on Rwanda, Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, said:

“This is a victory for the rights of men, women and children who simply want to be safe. Every day at the Refugee Council we work with people who have fled from bombs and bullets in war-ravaged countries such as Sudan and Syria, children and families who’ve fled death threats and persecution in Afghanistan and women who’ve escaped the clutches of the oppressive regime in Iran. They have been highly distressed, anxious, and traumatised about the prospect of being shipped as though they are human cargo to Rwanda.

“The plan goes against who we are as a country that stands up for those less fortunate than us and for the values of compassion, fairness and humanity. The government should be focusing on creating a functioning asylum system that allows people who seek safety in the UK a fair hearing on our soil and provides safe routes so they don’t have to take dangerous journeys .”

Miguel* (name changed), a Refugee Council client from South America, said: 

“I have been in the asylum system for four years with my wife and our two children. It is a disastrous and inefficient system. The things being suggested – like the Rwanda policy, or the barge – are the wrong solutions. If we have a good system and good policies, we can build a better country with the help of people who come through the asylum system.” ■