LONDON, June 26 – The British government has disclosed the cost implications of its ambitious plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, with each individual’s deportation estimated to amount to £169,000 ($215,035). The plan, which aims to address the increasing numbers of individuals arriving in small boats, has been scrutinized as a crucial strategy by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government. The government’s economic impact assessment, released on Monday, provides detailed insights into the costs associated with the initiative.
The Conservative government views the plan as a pivotal measure to dissuade asylum seekers from making the perilous journey across the English Channel from France. With national elections scheduled for next year and mounting pressure from Conservative lawmakers and the public to address the issue, Prime Minister Sunak has made this a top priority for his government.
According to the economic impact assessment, the deportation expenses to Rwanda would comprise an average payment of £105,000 to Rwanda for hosting each asylum seeker, £22,000 for the flight and escorting services, and £18,000 for processing and legal costs.
Home Secretary (interior minister) Suella Braverman emphasized the importance of considering these costs in light of the rising expenses associated with housing asylum seekers. Braverman warned that without action, the cost of accommodating asylum seekers would escalate from the current £3.6 billion to a staggering £11 billion per year.
“The economic impact assessment clearly shows that doing nothing is not an option,” stated Braverman.
The government acknowledged that the potential savings were uncertain, but estimated that the plan would need to deter nearly 40% of individuals arriving on small boats to break even.
Critics, including the Labour Party and the Scottish National Party, voiced their concerns over the economic assessment. Labour dismissed it as a “complete joke,” arguing that it failed to accurately portray the overall cost of the initiative. The Scottish National Party criticized the government for allocating an “astronomical” amount of funds for deporting desperate people while neglecting the needs of British citizens grappling with rising mortgage and food expenses.
On Thursday, the Court of Appeal is expected to deliver its judgment on the lawfulness of the Rwanda deportation flights. Last year, the first planned flight was halted by a last-minute ruling from the European Court of Human Rights, which imposed an injunction to suspend deportations until legal proceedings in Britain concluded. While the High Court in London ruled the policy lawful in December, asylum seekers from various countries, including Syria, Sudan, Iraq, Iran, and Vietnam, along with human rights organizations, are challenging the decision.
The escalating number of small boat arrivals prompted the government to take decisive action, as more than 45,000 people arrived in Britain through this method last year, primarily from France. As of now, over 11,000 individuals have made the journey in 2023.
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