Despite a sensational defeat in court, the British government wants to stick to its controversial plan to fly asylum seekers of different nationalities to Rwanda.
"We will not be deterred from doing the right thing and protecting our nation's borders," said Home Secretary Priti Patel on Tuesday evening after the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg initially thwarted her government's plans with a rare intervention .
They are already working on preparing for the next flight, Pratel added.
"I am disappointed that last-minute lawsuits and litigation prevented today's flight from taking off," said the politician.
It is very surprising that the European Court of Human Rights has intervened after British courts had previously decided otherwise.
The ECHR had ordered on Tuesday evening that one of those affected should not initially be flown out.
Rather, a period of three weeks must first elapse after the conclusion of the legal process in Great Britain.
The number of asylum seekers scheduled for the first flight recently fell from 37 originally to seven.
The court's order covered one of the survivors, an Iraqi.
"That allows the other six to raise similar objections," Clare Moseley of the Care4Calais foundation told Reuters.
"We are so relieved." From British government circles it was said that the verdict would be examined.
The ECtHR is part of the Council of Europe, not the European Union, and is therefore also responsible for Great Britain.
Rwanda should deter
Despite severe criticism, Great Britain stuck to its plan to deport asylum seekers who had entered the country illegally to Rwanda by plane.
London had signed an agreement with the East African country to fly illegal migrants there in return for payments.
According to Johnson's plans, Rwanda will initially receive 120 million pounds (about 144 million euros) for the cooperation.
It is intended to discourage people from even trying to enter the UK illegally.
The United Nations and many other organizations see this as a breach of international law and a dangerous precedent.
British courts initially gave the flight the green light.
The first chartered plane was supposed to bring asylum seekers to Rwanda on Wednesday night.
Originally, 130 deportations were targeted.
In the end, the British authorities booked 31 tickets.
However, according to Care4Calais, these were also gradually canceled due to pending legal decisions.
"I can't say exactly how many people will be on board," said British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on Tuesday, when only a handful of deportations were planned.
"The really important thing is that we introduce the principle." A little later, however, the ECtHR intervened - and overturned the whole action.
Last year, more than 28,000 migrants and refugees crossed the Channel to Britain.
Political opponents, charities and clergy have expressed their dismay at the project.
The UN refugee chief also recently criticized the plan.