The UK has initiated its first return of a failed asylum seeker to Rwanda as part of a voluntary repatriation program. The individual, who remains unidentified, is believed to have flown to Kigali,

the capital of Rwanda. This voluntary scheme, unveiled last month, offers up to £3,000 in assistance for migrants whose asylum claims have been rejected, providing them with an option to relocate to Rwanda.

Distinguished from the enforced returns program announced two years prior, which has faced significant delays and is slated to commence by mid-July, this initiative marks a voluntary departure of an asylum seeker from the UK. The departure, reported by The Sun, occurred on a commercial flight on Monday. While specific details about the individual were not disclosed, officials confirmed that the asylum seeker had exhausted all legal avenues to remain in the UK.

Rwanda's government confirmed the arrival of the failed asylum seeker on Tuesday, following a flight from London. The timing of this repatriation has sparked political debate, with Labour suggesting that the government's urgency to execute the repatriation before Thursday's local elections indicates a level of desperation.

This voluntary scheme, introduced in March, represents an extension of existing programs for failed asylum seekers. It is also open to individuals without legal rights to stay in the UK, including foreign criminals. The Home Office outlines that financial assistance under this scheme can cover temporary accommodation, education expenses, or funding for entrepreneurial endeavors in the recipient's destination country.

In defense of the scheme, Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch argued that the voluntary nature of the relocation contradicts claims that Rwanda is an unsafe destination. She emphasized that border control measures come with inherent costs and trade-offs. Official statistics indicate that last year, 19,253 individuals without legal rights to remain in the UK voluntarily left the country, with 3,319 receiving assistance from the Home Office.

Despite the financial incentives offered, legal experts express surprise at the low uptake of the scheme, particularly considering reports of vulnerable individuals being offered relocation packages. Shadow Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper criticized the expenditure of taxpayer funds on voluntary repatriation as a pre-election tactic.

This development follows the announcement that Rwanda has agreed to accept an initial group of 5,700 asylum seekers under a separate enforced returns scheme. The government asserts that this measure aims to deter future illegal crossings via the English Channel. However, legal hurdles have delayed the implementation of this scheme, which is scheduled to commence in the summer following legislative interventions.

While the Home Office maintains confidence in its ability to monitor the whereabouts of individuals subject to enforced returns, concerns persist regarding the potential for some individuals to abscond before their departure. Photo by SteveRwanda, Wikimedia commons.