First flight taking illegal immigrants to Rwanda is cleared by High Court

THE first flight taking illegal immigrants to Rwanda was cleared by the High Court last night.

Home Secretary Priti Patel won the first round of an 11th-hour court battle with leftie activists and lawyers.

A charter plane is due to take around 30 migrants to the central African nation on Tuesday, with up to another 100 on standby to follow.

Campaigners including Detention Action, Care4Calais and the PCS union failed in their last-minute bid to ground it after a judge refused a blanket order to put the flights on pause.

But the group could be allowed to appeal as early as next week.

The Home Office also faces another challenge from charity Asylum Aid on Monday.

But Ms Patel insisted: “We will not be deterred in breaking the deadly people smuggling trade and ultimately save lives.

“We will continue preparations for the first flight to Rwanda, alongside the range of other measures intended to reduce small boat crossings.”

Judge Justice Swift had told the court there was a “public interest” in Ms Patel being able to pursue her policy.

Campaigners are pushing for a six-week review of the scheme.

Some individuals due to fly are taking their own separate legal action.

So far this year 10,020 migrants have crossed the Channel by small boats — more than double the 4,546 detained by this stage last year.

Last year saw a record 28,526 migrants cross the Channel compared to 8,410 in 2020.