The first asylum seeker has been deported to Rwanda under Rishi Sunak’s migrant crackdown, marking a significant development in the government’s efforts to manage immigration.
The individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, was flown out of the UK yesterday evening and arrived in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital. In line with the terms of the agreement between the UK and Rwanda, the individual received around £3,000 in financial assistance from British taxpayers to facilitate their relocation.
This deportation marks the first instance of the UK relocating a failed asylum seeker to a third country, signalling a shift in the government’s approach to handling immigration issues.
The deported individual had previously sought asylum in Britain but had their bid rejected at the end of 2023. Subsequently, they accepted the offer to begin a new life in Rwanda, becoming the first to be relocated under the new scheme.
Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has been vocal about his intentions to relocate thousands of failed asylum seekers to third countries as part of the government’s efforts to manage immigration more effectively.
The Home Office confirmed the voluntary relocation plan for failed asylum seekers found in Britain without the right to remain. In 2023 alone, 19,000 failed asylum seekers were voluntarily removed from the UK after being informed that they would not be granted legal migrant status.
Despite these efforts, there remain tens of thousands of migrants in the system who cannot be returned to their home countries. Ministers argue that it is more cost-effective to deport migrants to Rwanda than to support them in Britain, even after providing financial assistance and flights.
However, recent reports have revealed challenges in implementing the deportation plan. Home Office officials reportedly admitted difficulty in locating thousands of migrants earmarked for deportation to Rwanda, raising concerns about their whereabouts.
In response to these challenges, the Home Office has emphasized the importance of the partnership with Rwanda and reiterated its commitment to managing immigration effectively.
Meanwhile, migrants living in Dublin’s tent city have expressed gratitude towards Rishi Sunak for refusing to allow them back to Britain, indicating their reluctance to be relocated to Rwanda.
