According to the UK government, it may cost up to £63,000 more to deport migrants to a “safe country” like Rwanda than to retain them in the UK.
The Illegal Migration Bill’s economic effect assessment determined that moving one person would cost a total of £169,000, but that the projected £106,000 in housing help that would be needed if they remained in the UK would not be necessary.
Removal of a Migrant
The government also asserted that the measure will save expenditures for the taxpayer by acting as a deterrence. According to the analysis, for the policy to be cost-free for the government, it would need to prevent 37% of people from entering the UK illegally.
An individual’s relocation to Rwanda or another third nation is projected to cost about £105,000 per person overall, with an additional £22,000 for travel and escort the person.
- UK considers £63,000 higher deportation cost for migrants to Rwanda.
- The government claims measure saves taxpayers by deterring illegal entry, preventing 37%.
- Women’s Committee requests children’s exemption from Rwandan immigration measures.
The costs are hypothetical projections rather than the highly sensitive commercial cost of the Rwanda accord.
In a report, the Women and Equalities Committee demanded that children be exempted from government immigration measures that might otherwise include their imprisonment or deportation to Rwanda.
The House of Lords still needs to pass the Illegal Migration Bill, which has encountered strong criticism and may encounter additional legal challenges if it becomes law.
