UK Sends First Asylum Seeker to Rwanda Under Voluntary Scheme

Britain has sent its first voluntary asylum seeker to Rwanda under a voluntary scheme, separate from an upcoming forced deportation program aimed at deterring English Channel crossings. The unnamed man, of African origin, was paid around £3,000 to relocate to Kigali on a commercial flight on Monday.

This voluntary scheme is for individuals who have gone through the asylum process and had their initial deportations rejected, unlike the forced deportation policy that is facing legal challenges. Under the voluntary scheme, the government will pay asylum seekers up to £3,000 each to move to Rwanda and help clear the backlog of refugees. This is part of an existing policy where asylum seekers are offered financial assistance to leave Britain for their home country, but now they can get the money if they agree to live in Rwanda instead.

The government claims this is evidence that the Rwanda plan will work, but the voluntary scheme faces fewer legal hurdles than the forced deportation program. The forced deportation policy, the government's flagship immigration policy, is set to begin in the summer after the Safety of Rwanda Bill cleared both houses of parliament. It will target anyone who has arrived in the UK illegally after January 1, 2022, with over 50,000 people having arrived since that date.

Why this matters: The UK's controversial Rwanda asylum plan has been met with criticism and legal challenges. The successful relocation of the first asylum seeker under the voluntary scheme is seen as a test case for the broader forced deportation program, which the government hopes will deter illegal Channel crossings and clear the backlog of asylum seekers.

However, the government document suggests they will only be able to easily detain just over 2,000 of these asylum seekers for deportation to Rwanda, according to a charity. The government has been accused of rushing to get flights to Rwanda before the local elections, with the opposition calling it an "extortionate pre-election gimmick" that will cost an average of £2 million per person. Refugee rights campaigners have also criticized the plan, claiming it will cause a "catastrophic system meltdown".

Key Takeaways

• UK sends first voluntary asylum seeker to Rwanda for £3,000 relocation payment.
• Voluntary scheme for rejected asylum seekers, unlike forced deportation facing legal challenges.
• Govt claims Rwanda plan will work, but voluntary scheme faces fewer legal hurdles.
• Govt can only easily detain over 2,000 asylum seekers for deportation to Rwanda.
• Refugee groups criticize plan as "catastrophic system meltdown", govt defends it.