Have a question?
033 3772 0409

Public Law Solicitors

Court of Appeal Rules Rwanda Policy Unlawful (29 June 2023)

Date: 29/06/2023
Duncan Lewis, Public Law Solicitors, Court of Appeal Rules Rwanda Policy Unlawful

The Court of Appeal has handed down its Judgment in AAA & Ors, concerning the lawfulness of the Secretary of State for the Home Department’s policy to remove asylum-seekers to Rwanda and for their claims to be determined there.

Duncan Lewis represents seven of the appellants, all of whom were due to be removed on the first scheduled flight last June.

The court found that the policy is unlawful. The agreement between the UK government and Rwanda, and the assurances provided as part of this, could not ‘wipe away’ the structural issues that have given rise to past human rights violations in the Central African country.

The court found there are substantial grounds for believing there is a real risk asylum seekers removed under the scheme would be subject to inhuman or degrading treatment.

Duncan Lewis’s Solicitor Sophie Lucas said: "Government officials were well aware of the crucial deficiencies in Rwanda’s asylum system from the inception of this policy. The Secretary of State glossed over and failed to properly examine the adequacy of Rwanda’s asylum system.

"The Secretary of State for the Home Department is not above the law, and the Court of Appeal has today ruled that these material deficiencies in Rwanda’s asylum system render removals unlawful."

For further information please contact public law solicitor Sophie Lucas via email at sophiel@duncanlewis.com.

Sophie is a solicitor in the public team at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, whose work focuses on representing asylum seekers and/or victims of trafficking seeking to challenge unlawful Home Office decisions.

The Duncan Lewis immigration and public law department is expert in all aspects of human rights, asylum and deportation. The team has achieved significant success on behalf of its clients. It holds a distinguished position in leading bold public interest litigation and in challenging litigation and political conditions that frequently invoke common law, constitutional and human rights arguments.

The team has a broad practice representing clients in matters involving immigration; asylum and human rights and deportation matters, with a niche practice in immigration and civil liberties claimant judicial review matters.


For all Public Law related matter contact us now.Contact Us

Call us now on 033 3772 0409 or click here to send online enquiry.
Duncan Lewis is the trading name of Duncan Lewis (Solicitors) Limited. Registered Office is 143-149 Fenchurch St, London, EC3M 6BL. Company Reg. No. 3718422. VAT Reg. No. 718729013. A list of the company's Directors is displayed at the registered offices address. Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority . Offices all across London and in major cities in the UK. ©Duncan Lewis >>Legal Disclaimer, Copyright & Privacy Policy. Duncan Lewis do not accept service by email.