IN a significant development, Britain has launched its voluntary scheme to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda, with The Sun newspaper reporting the departure of the first migrant on Monday. This initiative comes as part of a broader effort by the UK government to discourage illegal crossings of the English Channel by asylum seekers.
Under this voluntary programme, the British government offers asylum seekers up to £3,000 each to relocate to Rwanda, aimed at alleviating the backlog of refugees who have sought refuge in the UK in recent years. This scheme differs from the forced deportation program slated to commence in the coming months.
A government spokesperson emphasised the rationale behind this move, stating, ‘This deal allows people with no immigration status in the UK to be relocated to a safe third country where they will be supported to rebuild their lives.’
The decision to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, situated approximately 6,400 km (4,000 miles) away, has been met with legal and political challenges over the past two years. However, with parliamentary approval secured last week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak anticipates the inaugural deportation flights to begin within the next 10 to 12 weeks.
According to a British government document released on Monday, the first wave of asylum seekers earmarked for deportation to Rwanda will be drawn from a pool of 5,700 individuals whom Kigali has agreed, in principle, to accommodate. However, logistical constraints may limit the immediate removal of only about 2,000 individuals from this group.
Meanwhile, the forced deportation scheme targets anyone who arrived illegally after January 1, 2022. Official figures indicate that over 50,000 individuals have entered Britain through unauthorised means since that date.
This controversial policy has sparked protests from various quarters. Recently, an organization supporting asylum seekers staged a demonstration outside an immigration processing centre in south London to resist forced removals from the premises. Media reports suggest that authorities are gearing up to initiate the first deportation flights to Rwanda imminently.
