The Lords have urged Sunak not to relocate Afghan veterans to Rwanda.

Rishi Sunak has been called upon to guarantee that Afghan individuals who assisted British military against the Taliban are not sent back to Rwanda. This request comes as the House of Lords attempts to push for a revision in Sunak’s prominent “stop the boats” legislation.

Several individuals, including two former chiefs of the defence staff, a former defence secretary, and a former British ambassador to the US, are advocating for the addition of an exception to the Rwanda bill. This exception would prevent those who have supported UK forces and have entered Britain through unsafe and illegal means from being deported to Rwanda.

The government faced a series of losses on Monday to the legislation from the House of Lords. The Lords supported a request stating that Rwanda cannot be deemed secure by parliament until the treaty, which includes protective measures, has been completely put into effect.

Lord Tugendhat, a member of the Conservative party, criticized the government for acting similarly to the ruling party portrayed in George Orwell’s 1984 during the debate in the House of Lords. Lord Blunkett, a former home secretary from the Labour party, referred to the bill as “nonsensical.” The exclusion for Afghan military members will be discussed and voted on this Wednesday.

The request for assistance for individuals who assisted UK military personnel follows a string of articles from The Independent shedding light on the struggles of Afghan warriors facing expulsion to Rwanda due to being compelled to take perilous journeys to the UK.

One air force pilot who risked his life on combat missions in support of coalition forces was threatened with Rwanda after arriving in Britain on a small boat because he could not wait for help from the government’s Afghan resettlement schemes. That threat has now been removed and he has been granted asylum in Britain after the government was forced into a U-turn by this publication.

Renowned attorney Lord Carlile, who previously served as the independent overseer of laws related to terrorism and is now a member of the House of Lords, stated that it is necessary and fair to prevent these individuals from being deported. He also believes that there will be widespread support in the upper house to support this amendment. Retired General Sir Richard Dannatt, who was formerly the leader of the army, also expressed his support for this action.

The revision is being introduced by the ex-Labour minister of defence, Lord Browne of Ladyton. He expressed his worries about the suggested legislation by referencing four instances of uncovered cases from The Independent.

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These individuals are ex-members of the Afghan special forces known as The Triples. They were recruited, trained, and compensated by the UK special forces. A former high-ranking British diplomat expressed disbelief at the possibility of these soldiers being deported to East Africa after fleeing the Taliban. It is difficult to comprehend considering all they have endured.

According to the Illegal Migration Act, the government is obligated to expel individuals who entered the country unlawfully after July 20, 2023, when the act was given royal approval. The act also prohibits ministers from providing refuge to those who entered the UK illegally on or after March 7, 2023, when the bill was initially presented.

Proposed by crossbench peers Lord Houghton of Richmond, Lord Stirrup, and Lord Kerr of Kinlochard, the latest addition to the clause states that individuals of any nationality who have demonstrated significant support for the armed forces abroad or have worked for or indirectly contracted with the UK government in a meaningful manner would not be subject to deportation to Rwanda. Furthermore, their immediate families would also be exempt from deportation.

Lord Carlile expressed his endorsement for the amendment, stating that those impacted could face the possibility of being sent back to Afghanistan from Rwanda, potentially putting them in harm’s way.

He stated that there would likely be a significant amount of backing to prevent sending individuals who collaborated with Britain in Afghanistan to Rwanda, if it were put to a vote. However, this support would only be granted if peers were convinced that the conditions were restricted enough to prevent exploitation of the system.

“He stated that it is our goal to assist true Afghans who would face true difficulties if they were sent back to Afghanistan through Rwanda.”

It is important to recognize that the House of Lords cannot simply undermine government legislation – that is not our intention.

“If there is something that is equitable and necessary, we will inform the government that it is unacceptable.”

Former chief of the general staff, Lord Dannatt, expressed his support for the amendment, although he was not present in the House of Lords on Monday.

Tim Willasey-Wilsey, a former diplomat who worked closely with Triples unit 333 and is now a visiting professor at King’s College London, welcomed Lord Browne’s amendment and said that the idea that men and women who had been forced to flee to escape murder in Afghanistan because of their service in the Triples could be sent to Rwanda “beggared belief”.

He stated, “It is crucial for the House of Commons to approve Lord Browne’s amendment.”

“I have a lot of empathy for saving Afghan individuals who are in danger for supporting the UK’s military efforts against the Taliban,” stated Julian Lewis, a Conservative Member of Parliament and former leader of the Commons defense select committee.

“If our MoD and/or individual veterans can verify their service background, these individuals should have the opportunity to apply for arrival from the first safe country they reach. They should not have to make a dangerous and unlawful Channel crossing.”

He agreed to thoroughly review the proposal before supporting it.

Some individuals who have faced the possibility of being sent out of the country include an Afghan army official who collaborated with UK soldiers in joint missions in the Helmand province. This person arrived in the UK via a small boat in September 2022.

The Independent also reported on an Afghan intelligence professional who was employed in the Office of the National Security Council. This department was originally established by the UK to facilitate intelligence sharing. The analyst fled to the UK using unconventional methods because he believed waiting for assistance through official channels was not feasible for him.

The Independent and investigative newsroom Lighthouse Reports brought attention to another instance in which an Afghan special forces sniper, who was part of the Triples units, arrived in the UK by small boat. This soldier has spent the last 17 months waiting for their asylum case to be dealt with while staying in a hotel room.

The Ministry of Defence is currently conducting an evaluation of the situations involving Afghan special forces soldiers who were denied relocation to the UK. Defence minister James Heappey has acknowledged that some of the decisions may have been inconsistent and lacking in strength.

More revisions under consideration involve questioning the government’s determination that Rwanda is a secure nation. A particular revision contends that the parliament should not deem Rwanda as safe until additional safeguards, mandated by the UK Supreme Court, like an oversight committee for asylum determinations, are completely enforced.

Last year, the Supreme Court deemed the government’s proposal to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda illegal. However, Rishi Sunak has introduced new laws stating that Rwanda is a safe country and has urged the House of Lords to not impede the desires of the citizens by opposing his policies.

His plea to fellow politicians is for them to swiftly approve the legislation, with the goal of resuming air travel by the spring season.

Source: independent.co.uk