According to documents obtained by Sky News, the UK government at one point contemplated utilizing Iraq as a processing center for asylum seekers, drawing parallels to the existing Rwanda scheme.
The proposal would have involved transferring individuals from the UK to a country that the government advises against all travel to.
In leaked correspondences between high-ranking officials, it was revealed that the Iraqi returns commitments were established with a “request for discretion” and an emphasis on maintaining secrecy. While Iraq expressed willingness to move forward with the arrangement, they preferred to avoid a formal or public agreement.
The report suggests that negotiations with Iraq were in an advanced stage, with one internal document noting “good recent progress.” Additionally, the government aimed to enhance cooperation with the Iranian Embassy to bolster returns arrangements for migrants and potential asylum seekers.
Furthermore, plans for returns agreements were in progress for Eritrea and Ethiopia, countries that have seen a significant number of nationals arriving in the UK via small boats.
Given the challenges and criticisms surrounding the proposed Rwanda policy, Downing Street advisers acknowledged early on the issues with their plans. There were private acknowledgments that many individuals arriving in the UK via small boats did so independently, without the involvement of criminal groups, contrary to the communications strategy in place.
Downing Street officials also drew comparisons with Australia’s response to a similar, albeit perceived smaller, issue, acknowledging the substantial costs incurred to establish operational returns processes in Australia.
The government’s preparedness to invest substantially in the policy was highlighted in internal documents, with officials instructed to be “prepared to pay over the odds” to implement the plan. Initial discussions with Rwanda indicated a “modest sum” offered for the arrangement.
Notably, the official spending watchdog estimated the cost of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda at £1.8 million per person for the first 300 individuals sent to Kigali.
Since April 2022, the Home Office has allocated £220 million to Rwanda’s economic transformation and integration fund, supporting economic growth in the country and covering operational costs for relocated individuals. Further payments of £50 million over the next year and an additional £50 million in the subsequent year are also planned.
