Rwanda bill passes with promise not to send eligible Afghans who supported UK military

A controversial immigration bill has cleared Parliament after the Government promised it would not send those who are eligible under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) to Rwanda.

Peers did not press previous demands for the bill to include an exemption from removal for Afghan nationals who assisted British troops.

Former Labour defence secretary Lord Des Browne had been leading efforts to secure the exemption.

• Inside Op Lazurite: British military operation to settle Afghans in UK
• Military camp in Wales to house Afghans who risked their lives helping UK
• Fresh hope for former Afghan special forces members previously ineligible for UK resettlement

The Safety of Rwanda Bill is expected to receive royal assent in the coming days.

Charter planes are expected to leave for Rwanda in 10-12 weeks, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promising "multiple flights a month", although minsters conceded the numbers being sent to Kigali would be small at first.

The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) launched in April 2021 and was intended to provide a lifeline for Afghan allies, but has been marred by mismanagement, resulting in a significant backlog of applications.

And now those who have made it to the UK as refugees are living in fear of being deported to Rwanda before their applications have been processed.

Britain and Rwanda signed a deal almost two years ago that would see migrants who cross the English Channel in small boats sent to the east African country, where they would remain permanently.

So far, no migrant has been sent to Rwanda under the agreement.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper called the bill "an extortionately expensive gimmick rather than a serious plan to tackle dangerous boat crossings".

"The Rwanda scheme will cost more than half a billion pounds for just 300 people, less than 1% of asylum seekers here in the UK – and there is no plan for the 99%," she said.

"Instead of spending £2m per asylum seeker on this failing scheme, they should be putting that money into boosting our border security instead – that is Labour's practical plan."

Rwandan government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo said: "We are committed to the migration and economic development partnership with the UK and look forward to welcoming those relocated to Rwanda."

On Tuesday, five people, including a child, died while attempting to cross the English Channel just hours after the bill cleared Parliament.