The United Kingdom’s government is contemplating a plan to offer asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected up to £3,000 ($3,840) to relocate to Rwanda.
This proposed scheme, part of an agreement reached with Rwanda, aims to address a backlog of tens of thousands of asylum seekers who have been denied the right to stay in the UK but cannot be returned to countries considered unsafe.
Distinct from the contentious “Rwanda bill,” which proposed forcibly deporting most asylum seekers to Rwanda, this plan builds upon an existing policy where individuals are provided financial assistance to return to their home countries.
While 19,000 people voluntarily left the UK in the past year, the new scheme offers monetary incentives for relocation to Rwanda, which the UK government views as a safe third country, despite concerns raised by rights groups regarding political oppression.
Under this arrangement, rejected asylum seekers, who cannot legally work in the UK, would be permitted to do so in Rwanda and be eligible for five years of additional support outlined in the 2022 deportation plan.
Junior business minister Kevin Hollinrake defended the policy, stating that it represents a prudent use of public funds.
However, the government faces legal challenges to the “Rwanda bill,” which was deemed unlawful by the UK’s Supreme Court last year due to violations of British and international human rights laws.
To circumvent legal obstacles, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government is advancing legislation in Parliament to prevent further legal challenges by designating Rwanda as a “safe country” for asylum seekers.
Rwanda currently has the capacity to accept a limited number of asylum seekers from the UK each year, with potential for increased capacity.
Sunak aims to initiate the first deportation flights in the coming months, anticipating a national election later this year.
Source-BBC
