The UK government intends to offer asylum seekers financial incentives of up to £3,000 ($3,836) each to relocate voluntarily to Rwanda. This initiative aims to alleviate the backlog of refugees whose asylum requests in the UK have been denied.
The new agreement with Rwanda is separate from the government’s stalled plan to forcibly deport most asylum seekers to the East African country, which was last year ruled unlawful by the UK’s Supreme Court.
According to the new agreement, individuals will be eligible for financial assistance if they opt to settle in Rwanda. This mirrors an existing policy where support is given to asylum seekers who choose to return to their native countries.
Many asylum seekers in Britain have been declined asylum status, but the government faces limitations in deporting them to countries affected by conflict or with a track record of significant human rights abuses.
Although the initial payment of £3,000 is significant, it is comparatively less costly than supporting individuals in the UK who have been denied asylum but cannot be deported due to legal obstacles.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak plans to start deportation flights to Rwanda in the near future, aiming to fulfil his promise to “stop the boats” before an expected national election later this year.
He has been actively involved in reducing the arrival of unauthorized asylum seekers, especially those reaching England’s southern coast via small, inflatable boats.
However, the government’s previous attempt to deport numerous individuals to Rwanda encountered legal obstacles, resulting in a Supreme Court ruling that deemed the approach unlawful under British and international human rights laws.
Despite this, Sunak’s administration is committed to pursuing its goals by introducing legislation in parliament to classify Rwanda as a “safe country” for asylum seekers.
Rwanda has expressed its willingness to accommodate a limited number of asylum seekers from Britain, with the potential to expand this capacity.
