Government offering failed asylum-seekers
thousands of pounds to move to Rwanda, under new plans
New deal struck with Kigali to host people who
volunteer to leave UK after their asylum claims are rejected
Andy
Gregory
Tuesday 12
March 2024 22:42 GMT
People
whose asylum claims have been rejected in Britain are being offered thousands
of pounds to move to Rwanda, under a new scheme drawn up by Rishi Sunak’s
government.
With MPs
yet to approve the prime minister’s flagship scheme to forcibly send
asylum-seekers whose claims are still pending to Rwanda, The Independent
understands that a new deal has been struck with Kigali in recent weeks.
The new
plans will see Rwanda use the same framework established for the forcible
removals scheme to also host people who choose to move there voluntarily after
their asylum claims in the UK have been unsuccessful.
Those
deemed to have no right to live or work in the UK will instead be offered up to
£3,000 to relocate to Rwanda, where it is claimed they will be provided with a
package of support lasting up to five years to help them obtain housing, study,
undertake training, and work.
The Home
Office is understood to have already started approaching people it believes
could wish to volunteer for removal under the scheme, who otherwise will remain
unable to work, secure accommodation or claim benefits in the UK.
The plan
mirrors existing voluntary removals schemes which, according to the Home Office
saw 19,000 people given financial assistance to return to their “country of
origin” last year, down from more than 31,000 in 2010.
But it is
unprecedented in the fact that people would be paid to move to Rwanda, a third
country, as opposed to their country of origin.
While Mr
Sunak’s government insists Rwanda is a safe third country, this was disputed in
the Supreme Court, whose damning ruling the prime minister is now seeking to
override with new legislation, which will return to the House of Commons on
Monday.
According
to The Times, which first reported the plans, ministers believe the new scheme
is lawful because it will be on a voluntary basis, and it will not be dependent
upon the controversial new legislation gaining parliamentary approval.
“We hope
there will be failed asylum seekers out there who have no right to benefits or
work in the UK, might be in hotels for prolonged periods of time and may want
to take up the opportunity,” a government source told the paper.
The Home
Office rejected 30,967 asylum claims in 2023. Just over 4,000 of the 19,253
people who accepted voluntary resettlement were those whose claims had been
rejected. Of the remainder, 15,243 people had committed crimes or overstayed
their visas, with a further 6,393 enforced returns, according to The Times.
A Home
Office spokesman said: “In the last year, 19,000 people were removed
voluntarily from the UK and this is an important part of our efforts to tackle
illegal migration.
“We are
exploring voluntary relocations for those who have no right to be here to
Rwanda, who stand ready to accept people who wish to rebuild their lives and
cannot stay in the UK.
“This is in
addition to our Safety of Rwanda Bill and Treaty which, when passed, will
ensure people who come to the UK illegally are removed to Rwanda.”
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