According to IPPR, deporting 20,000 migrants who have entered the UK since 2023 could cost between £1.1 billion and £3.9 billion. This means that the transfer of each migrant to Rwanda could cost around £228,000.

Marley Morris, an IPPR Associate director focusing on migration, trade, and communities, argued that deporting migrants to Rwanda would be more expensive for the UK government than supporting them within the UK.

He stated, "In this government program, billions will be sent to Rwanda to deport people who have arrived in the UK illegally since the passage of the law governing unauthorized migrants."

A spokesperson for the UK’s Home Office criticized the IPPR’s figures as speculative and accused them of ignoring the facts and emphasized that without innovative solutions, the cost of housing migrants could reach £11 billion per year by 2026.

He argued that illegal migration endangers lives and fosters human trafficking, justifying the search for solutions to this long-standing issue.

The spokesperson further suggested that deporting migrants to Rwanda is a cost-effective measure aiming to prevent unauthorized entry into the UK.

The strategy is part of an updated agreement between the UK and Rwanda signed in December 2023, intending to deport approximately 30,000 migrants to Kigali over five years.

Rwanda and UK signed revised migration treaty in December 2023.