Public Law Studies Quarterly

The UK's Rwanda Asylum Plan with a Focus on Iran's Migration Policy

Articles in Press

Document Type : Article

Authors

Amirmasoud Pourmousa 1
Mahin Sobhani 2

1 MA. Student in Criminal Law & Criminology, Faculty of Humanities & Literature, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Humanities & Literature, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2025.392253.3721
Abstract
The UK’s Rwanda asylum plan emerged as part of broader efforts to reform asylum policies and strengthen border controls following the country’s voluntary exit from the European Union. On April 14, 2022, the UK government, under a migration and economic development partnership agreement and two diplomatic memoranda, designated Rwanda as a safe destination for outsourcing asylum applications. The stated objectives of this agreement included reducing dangerous sea crossings, preventing human trafficking, and increasing investment in Rwanda. Consequently, the proposed plan was introduced to the House of Commons under Chapter 29 of the UK’s Nationality and Borders Act and subsequently enacted into law. However, this legislation has faced significant challenges, including concerns over the safety of the third country and potential violations of human rights principles. This paper adopts a descriptive-analytical approach to evaluate the post-Brexit asylum policies embedded in the UK’s Nationality and Borders Act and examines how Iran can leverage these experiences in its refugee policy. The findings indicate that the UK’s asylum outsourcing scheme undermines fundamental principles such as the principle of non-refoulement and the right to seek asylum, posing serious threats to refugee protections.

Keywords

Non-Refoulement Principle
Refugee Rights
Iran’s Migration Policy
The UK's Rwanda Asylum Plan
Afghan Migrants
Subjects

  1. English

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Available Online from 23 July 2027

  • Receive Date 18 March 2025
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