Brazilians receive R$22,000 to leave the United Kingdom

The British government “secretly” deported around 600 Brazilians, including 109 children, from the United Kingdom between August and September, according to the British newspaper The Guardian. THE CNNItamaraty said that the action was carried out through a voluntary return program.

The report states that the British Home Department has never deported so many immigrants of the same nationality in an operation of this size. The inclusion of children was also highlighted as unprecedented.

Last Thursday (28), Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a statement promising to reduce the number of migrants arriving in the United Kingdom. The speech took place hours after the government released official data showing that migration reached a record in the country.

The report highlights that the children on the flights were with their families and many of them would have studied in British schools “and would probably have spent most, if not all, of their lives in the United Kingdom”.

“It is not known how many people on the three flights did not want to return to Brazil for fear of their safety, but felt they had no choice but to board the planes”, ponders the newspaper.

The British government offers incentives for immigrants who voluntarily return to their countries, which can reach payments of up to 3 million pounds sterling, equivalent to R$22,813, at this Sunday’s exchange rate (1st).

The operation was divided into three flights:

1st flight – August 9: 205 people, including 43 children;

2nd flight – August 23: 206 people, including 30 children;

3rd flight – September 27th: 218 people, including 36 children.

Speaking to CNN, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the action was carried out through a voluntary return program maintained by the British Department of the Interior, and took place on commercial airline flights.

“O VRS [sigla em inglês para o “Programa de Retorno Voluntário”] It offers air tickets for migrants who wish to return to their countries of origin, as well as financial assistance to resettle in their hometowns”, declared the Itamaraty in a note.