Britain has sent the first asylum seeker to Rwanda under a new and highly-criticized scheme, according to British media reports on Tuesday.
The scheme targets irregular migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected and is voluntary in this initial case.
Last week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government enacted a law authorizing the deportation of irregular migrants to Rwanda, a move that has drawn significant criticism.
While large-scale deportations are planned to begin in July, the individual who left the UK on Monday had reportedly agreed to relocation to Rwanda after his asylum claim was denied late last year.
Details on the departure remain limited. Media reports indicate the African national departed on a commercial flight and may receive up to £3,000 ($3,750) in exchange for his agreement to leave Britain.
The British Home Office has yet to confirm these reports.
“We are now able to send asylum seekers to Rwanda under our migration and economic development partnership,” a government spokesperson stated, defending the program.
They emphasized that the deal facilitates a safe haven for those without legal immigration status in the UK, where they can rebuild their lives.
The British government anticipates deporting a total of 5,700 migrants to Rwanda this year as part of this scheme.
Their aim is to deter the ongoing influx of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats from Northern Europe.
According to official statistics, over 57,000 people attempted this perilous journey between January 2022 and June 2023.
