UK’s Rwanda Asylum Seeker Plan Could Cost Over 600 Million Pounds

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The British government’s proposal to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda has come under scrutiny by parliament’s spending watchdog, which revealed that the plan could cost more than 600 million pounds to deport just 300 refugees. The policy, announced in 2022, aimed to send asylum seekers arriving on England’s southern coast in inflatable boats to Rwanda. However, ongoing legal challenges have prevented any deportations from taking place thus far.

Despite the lack of deportations, the British government has already paid Rwanda 220 million pounds, with an additional 150 million pounds committed over the next three years, and 120 million pounds upon resettling the first 300 asylum seekers. The government would also have to pay Rwanda nearly 151,000 pounds for each individual resettled, in addition to other costs such as flight expenses, bringing the total cost of the policy to over 600 million pounds.

The National Audit Office (NAO) highlighted the high risk and novelty of the policy, noting that the final cost would depend on the number of individuals deported. The Supreme Court ruled the scheme unlawful last year, citing violations of British and international human rights laws due to inadequacies in the Rwandan system.

Despite legal setbacks and mounting costs, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has pledged to continue with the policy, seeking to expedite deportation flights before an upcoming election. The government aims to pass legislation declaring Rwanda a safe country to block further legal challenges.

Critics argue that many asylum seekers arriving in Britain are fleeing conflict and persecution, but the government contends that a significant portion are economic migrants rather than genuine refugees. So far this year, 2,255 asylum seekers have arrived in Britain on small boats, fueling ongoing debate and controversy over immigration policies and refugee rights.