Georgina Cutler
Guest Reporter
The Government is considering a policy change that would allow migrants stranded on the Chagos Islands to transfer directly to the UK.
This decision comes in response to legal action brought by some of the 61 Tamil Sri Lankan asylum seekers who have been living on Diego Garcia since October 2021.
The migrants were rescued at sea by Royal Navy personnel and have been residing on the largest of the Chagos Islands for more than two years.
Previously, Sir Keir Starmer had agreed to a controversial deal to deport migrants arriving at the Chagos Islands to St Helena, a remote UK territory over 5,000 miles away in the South Atlantic Ocean.
In March, some of the asylum seekers initiated legal proceedings against the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, alleging an unlawful delay in arranging their relocation to a safe third country.
The High Court in London was previously informed that some migrants face inhumane conditions on the island, including overcrowding and rat infestations.
On Monday, lawyers for the FCDO and Home Office announced a proposed change in policy - which would allow families, children, and unaccompanied men without criminal convictions or ongoing investigations to transfer directly to the UK.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
A decision on offering UK entry is expected within 48 hours, according to the departments' lawyers.
Leigh Day solicitor Tom Short, representing the migrants, welcomed the Home Secretary's decision. He described it as "an enormous relief" for his clients, including 16 children.
Short said: "Our clients fled Sri Lanka seeking refuge from persecution. The treatment and unlawful detention they have endured at the hands of the British Indian Ocean Territory Administration for the past three years is disgraceful."
He urged the Home Secretary to close the camp and bring the migrants to the UK without further delay.
The UK's decision comes amid a broader context of changes regarding the Chagos Islands.
Last month, it was announced that the UK had agreed to hand over the archipelago, officially known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, to Mauritius.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that the government aims to sign and ratify the treaty with Mauritius in 2025, calling it a "historic moment".
The Prime Minister's official spokesman acknowledged the situation's complexity, and said: "The government inherited a deeply troubling situation that remained unresolved under the previous administration when it came to migrants who had arrived at Diego Garcia."
The spokesman added that Diego Garcia had "clearly never been a suitable long-term location for migrants" and that the government has been working to find a solution that protects their welfare and the integrity of British territorial borders.
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This decision comes in response to legal action brought by some of the 61 Tamil Sri Lankan asylum seekers who have been living on Diego Garcia since October 2021.
The migrants were rescued at sea by Royal Navy personnel and have been residing on the largest of the Chagos Islands for more than two years.
Previously, Sir Keir Starmer had agreed to a controversial deal to deport migrants arriving at the Chagos Islands to St Helena, a remote UK territory over 5,000 miles away in the South Atlantic Ocean.
In March, some of the asylum seekers initiated legal proceedings against the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, alleging an unlawful delay in arranging their relocation to a safe third country.
The High Court in London was previously informed that some migrants face inhumane conditions on the island, including overcrowding and rat infestations.
On Monday, lawyers for the FCDO and Home Office announced a proposed change in policy - which would allow families, children, and unaccompanied men without criminal convictions or ongoing investigations to transfer directly to the UK.
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A decision on offering UK entry is expected within 48 hours, according to the departments' lawyers.
Leigh Day solicitor Tom Short, representing the migrants, welcomed the Home Secretary's decision. He described it as "an enormous relief" for his clients, including 16 children.
Short said: "Our clients fled Sri Lanka seeking refuge from persecution. The treatment and unlawful detention they have endured at the hands of the British Indian Ocean Territory Administration for the past three years is disgraceful."
He urged the Home Secretary to close the camp and bring the migrants to the UK without further delay.
The UK's decision comes amid a broader context of changes regarding the Chagos Islands.
Last month, it was announced that the UK had agreed to hand over the archipelago, officially known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, to Mauritius.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that the government aims to sign and ratify the treaty with Mauritius in 2025, calling it a "historic moment".
The Prime Minister's official spokesman acknowledged the situation's complexity, and said: "The government inherited a deeply troubling situation that remained unresolved under the previous administration when it came to migrants who had arrived at Diego Garcia."
The spokesman added that Diego Garcia had "clearly never been a suitable long-term location for migrants" and that the government has been working to find a solution that protects their welfare and the integrity of British territorial borders.
Find Out More...