The previous British government significantly exceeded the initial budget for a controversial scheme aimed at deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda. The policy, which involved sending asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing and resettlement, was heavily promoted by consecutive Conservative prime ministers as a key strategy to address irregular migration.
Despite the high expenditures, no asylum seekers were actually deported to Rwanda under the initiative. Only four individuals voluntarily traveled to Rwanda this year after being offered £3,000 each. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper revealed that the total cost of the policy amounted to approximately £700 million (over $900 million).
“It is the most shocking waste of taxpayers’ money I’ve ever seen,” stated Ms. Cooper during her address to Parliament. She disclosed that the previous government had planned to allocate more than £10 billion to the project over a six-year period, a fact that was not disclosed to Parliament.
The expenses included direct payments to Rwanda exceeding £290 million, chartered flights that were never utilized, the detention and subsequent release of numerous asylum seekers, as well as the employment of 1,000 civil servants to support the initiative.
Following the recent victory of the Labour government, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the abandonment of the Rwanda deportation plan. The government expressed intentions to explore potential avenues for fund recovery, although Rwanda made it clear that there were no plans to reimburse the funds. A Rwandan government spokesperson emphasized that the bilateral treaty did not include provisions for repayment.
The Rwanda policy was initially introduced under Boris Johnson’s administration in 2022, drawing criticism from human rights organizations and legal experts who highlighted its potential violations of domestic and international laws. The policy was deemed unlawful by the UK’s highest court last year.
The Conservative government persisted with the plan as a central component of its commitment to curbing dangerous crossings across the English Channel. Despite facing challenges, Rishi Sunak, the former Conservative Prime Minister, designated Rwanda as a “safe country” to bypass the Supreme Court ruling and continued to advocate for the plan leading up to the July 4 general election.
Notably, at least 19 individuals lost their lives attempting to cross the English Channel in small boats in 2024, with over 15,000 individuals undertaking the perilous journey, according to official data.
In response to claims made by Conservative lawmakers, including former Home Secretary James Cleverly, suggesting inflated figures, the Labour government affirmed its commitment to addressing the crisis in the English Channel and preventing further tragic incidents.
As the government transitions its approach to migration policies, the aftermath of the costly Rwanda deportation plan serves as a critical lesson in the complexities and consequences of immigration strategies.
