The has paid an eye-watering £53 million to leave the country over the past four years. In a bid to defend the move, said assisted voluntary returns are a more cost-effective way than funding accommodation for those awaiting enforced deportation.
Under a voluntary return scheme run by the Government, migrants may be eligible to receive up to £3,000 in financial support as an incentive to return to their home country. The scheme known as "assisted returns" also explains to migrants their options for returning home, helps them obtain travel documents such as passports and pays for tickets if they are unable to.
Migrants most likely to receive the money are:
- Returning to a 'developing country', as defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
- Refused asylum in the UK
- A victim of modern slavery, as confirmed by UK Visas and Immigration
- Afamily group that will travel together, including a child under 18 years old
- Under 18 and travelling alone
- Under 21 and a care leaver
- Sleeping rough
- Those needing more help with their return - for example, because they have a medical condition
In recent years, the number of people applying for assisted returns has risen sharply, with 6,799 people travelling home this way in 2024 compared to 2,179 people in 2022, reports .
Between 2021 and 2024, 13,637 people have taken an assisted return, according to data.
Last year, over half of the foreign nationals who accepted assisted returns were from Brazil, with 3,573 taking up the offer. The second highest nationality was India, with 915 people returning in 2024 and Honduras was third with 271.
Despite the increasing number of people opting for assisted returns, the Home Office insists the voluntary return scheme is a "much more cost-effective alternative for the taxpayer" than paying for accommodation and support for those facing deportation from the UK.
Sir Keir Starmer boasted in March that migrant returns had reached the highest rate in eight years under Labour.
He revealed more than 24,000 migrants have been deported since Labour came to office and pointed to a 21% increase in enforced returns and a 16% increase in foreign national offenders being removed from the UK since July 5.
Yet, so far, 2025 has been the worst year in history for illegal immigrants crossing the Channel.
Defence Secretary John Healey conceded that Britain had "lost control of its borders" after 1,194 migrants made the dangerous Channel crossing last Saturday.
