UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak aims to halt sea arrivals, especially through small boats via the English Channel@RishiSunak|X

The UK government’s long-debated plan to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda finally gained the approval of the upper house of parliament early Tuesday after more than two years of discussion.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to start the first flight to Kigali within weeks.

The UK aims to deport migrants who enter the UK illegally to Rwanda for five years, aiming to deter asylum seekers from crossing the risky English Channel.

The new bill gives ministers the power to disregard sections of international and British human rights law.