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Lawmakers in Britain have approved Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda bill, a crucial component of the government’s plan to designate Rwanda as a safe country for the relocation of migrants.

The bill successfully passed the House of Commons on Wednesday with 320 votes in favor and 276 votes against. It is now set to move to the House of Lords, the upper chamber of Parliament, for its initial reading.

A spokesperson for the prime minister’s office declared, “The passing of the bill marks a significant milestone in our strategy to prevent the influx of boats.”

In April 2022, the UK and Rwanda forged an agreement where illegal immigrants and asylum seekers would be transferred to Rwanda for the processing of their claims. Successful applicants would be granted permanent residency in Rwanda rather than being permitted to return to Britain.

Despite the government’s intentions, the scheme encountered resistance. The first planned flight to transport seven migrants to Rwanda in June 2022 was canceled following intervention by the European Court of Human Rights. Two months ago, Britain’s Supreme Court deemed the government’s plan unlawful.

In response, the British government swiftly introduced emergency legislation, known as the Safety of Rwanda Bill, to override both domestic and international human rights laws. However, a vote on amendments to the bill on Tuesday exposed divisions within the governing Conservative Party, with around 60 Conservative MPs voting against the government.

Furthermore, three Conservative lawmakers, including two deputy chairmen of the party, resigned on Tuesday evening in protest against the amendments vote.

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer criticized Sunak, stating earlier on Wednesday that the prime minister had been “brutally exposed by his own MPs yet again,” and characterized the government’s plan as “a farce.”

Under the scheme, the British government has reportedly provided Rwanda with 240 million British pounds (approximately 304 million U.S. dollars).