The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had intervened in the case, with its lawyer telling the Supreme Court that it was not involved in Interior Minister Priti Patel’s plan “despite allegations to the contrary”. Laura Dubinsky QC said there were “inaccuracies” in the way the department’s views were described by the Home Office. He told the court that the agency was concerned about the risk of “serious, irreparable harm” to refugees sent to Rwanda, adding that the body “in no way supports the UK-Rwanda agreement”. “The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is not involved in the UK-Rwanda agreement, despite allegations made to the contrary by the Secretary of State,” he said. Ms Dubinsky said the agency had “serious concerns about Rwanda’s capacity”, adding: “The UNHCR itself is not in a position to rectify these shortcomings. “The problems described are deep-rooted structural problems, they can not be solved quickly.” He also told a hearing in London that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees had “a series of meetings” with the Home Office and said they believed the policy was illegal.
