The UK has sent its first rejected asylum seeker to Rwanda – under a voluntary scheme.
The scheme is aimed at those who have gone through the asylum process and been refused permission, rather than migrants who entered Britain illegally by crossing the English Channel in small boats.
The migrant was sent on a commercial flight and received a fee from the British taxpayer to help move under the terms of an agreement with Rwanda.
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According to The sun, the man of African origin applied for asylum in the United Kingdom, but was rejected at the end of last year. He then accepted the offer to go to Rwanda.
He left the UK on Monday.
This was not done using the powers set out in the Rwanda Security Law, but yes a parallel scheme this allows someone to choose to make the journey if their attempts to claim asylum in the UK fail.
And upon arrival in Kigali, one can claim around £3,000 in UK taxpayer money in aid.
The development was criticized by both the Labor Party and Reform UK director Nigel Farage.
Yvette Cooper, Labour’s home secretary, said: “The Conservatives are so desperate to get any flights to Rwanda before the local elections that they have just paid someone to go.
“Not only are British taxpayers forking out £3,000 for a volunteer to board a plane, they are also paying Rwanda to provide him with free food and accommodation for the next five years. This exorbitant pre-election stunt is likely to cost an average of £ 2 million per person.
“Former Conservative Home Office ministers warned that the government’s plan was only to carry out symbolic flights before the general election. Now we know what they mean.”
Former UKIP leader Mr Farage said: “Don’t be fooled by this government’s new version of the Rwanda deal.
“This African man, who did not even cross the English Channel, was refused asylum and voluntarily accepted £3,000 and free food.
“That’s not going to stop the boats.”
The government’s attempts to forcibly remove people to Rwanda were announced more than two years ago, but so far no one has been sent.
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Earlier this month, parliament passed the Rwanda Security Law and the government hopes to have flights taking off within nine to 11 weeks.
A government spokesperson said: “We can now send asylum seekers to Rwanda as part of our migration and economic development partnership.
“This agreement allows people without UK immigration status to be relocated to a safe third country where they will be supported to rebuild.”
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
