The first refugee arrived at Kigali, Rwanda on Tuesday by commercial flight from London. Criticism of the government for “election gimmick” but also for the cost of transportation. The British government currently believes that even the number 1 migrant leaving for Rwanda from the UK is the beginning of the end of illegal immigration in the country, which he wants so badly to succeed.

The Sun newspaper reported just that. The first migrant flew to Rwanda, and voluntarily. In addition, according to what the government of the African country itself confirmed, he arrived in Kigali on Tuesday, on a flight that started from London.

No other information was given about the man who chose to make the long journey, other than the fact that he is a man and that he has exhausted all his rights of residence in the UK.

What is the new voluntary return program?

The voluntary return program to Rwanda is a new program announced by the British government just a month and a half ago and was first published by The Times of London. It is pointed out that the program is completely different from the much-discussed “Rwanda plan”, which is designed to send asylum seekers on special flights to Kigali and of course not voluntarily. At the same time, Britain already has a program which offers voluntary returns. But at present this is a variation of it and applies to immigrants and foreign criminals who have exhausted any right to remain in the UK but cannot return to their country.

In fact, it is being described as a “first of its kind” scheme, as for the first time refugees and migrants who fail their asylum claim are being paid to leave the UK without having to return to their country of origin. The amount of the payment can reach 3,000 pounds plus the ticket of the commercial flight to Rwanda.

The UK Home Office has said that the payment given to failed asylum seekers “is given so that they can pay for a temporary stay in the destination country, for the cost of education or even to start a new business”.

Reactions to the cost and criticism of “political gimmick”

The Labor party condemned the move, saying it was a “pre-election ploy”. In particular, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said it shows “how desperate the ruling Conservative party is to get a flight to Rwanda at all costs before the local elections tomorrow Thursday”.

In response to criticism the government has received over the amount of aid being given, Business Secretary Kemi Beidenock told Sky News that “there is no zero-cost option for border protection”.

According to official statistics, last year 19,253 people were voluntarily removed from the country because they had no right to remain in the UK, and of those just 3,319 received a “re-integration package” or had their flights paid for by the Home Office.