The UK government is proposing to give £3,000 each to failed asylum seekers wishing to move to Rwanda, amid controversy over legality and morality.
Rishi Sunak’s government has announced a programme under which asylum seekers will receive up to £3,000 along with a support package, valid for up to five years, which includes housing, education, training and employment in Rwanda. The initiative is part of a wider effort to manage irregular migration, after around 20,000 people were voluntarily removed from the UK last year.
The plan marks a significant shift: people will be paid to move to a third country rather than their country of origin. The Supreme Court has expressed concern about the plan, although the government assures that Rwanda is a safe place to live. The Home Office has begun contacting potential applicants who have been refused asylum and are not eligible to work or receive benefits in the UK.
Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake said:
£3,000 is a lot of money, but it costs a lot more money than that to keep people in this country who are out here without merit.
The migration policy has sparked debate about its legality and moral grounds, with critics and the Supreme Court questioning its effects. Despite much controversy, the government argues that the voluntary nature of the programme allows it to remain within the law, precluding the need for new legislative approval. Meanwhile, issues surrounding detention capacity in the UK pose operational challenges to Rishi Sunak’s migration policy: there is a significant shortage of places required to hold migrants under the Illegal Migration Act.
It is estimated that 2,000 detention places will be needed by the end of April, and 5,400 are projected to be needed by September. Delays in commissioning new detention places and converting existing premises into adequate facilities exacerbate the problem, potentially increasing the risk of homelessness and exploitation among those who disappear from the asylum system.
