Nearly 9,000 Brazilian migrants have accepted financial incentives to leave the United Kingdom under the government's assisted voluntary return program over the past two years. According to Home Office data, 8,901 individuals from Brazil received payments of up to £3,000 each as part of the scheme, which also saw a total of 20,365 migrants from various countries agree to return home.

Despite Brazil accounting for the largest number of participants, take-up among migrants from other countries was markedly lower. Among those from the five largest nationalities arriving via small boats, only a handful accepted the offer: seven Eritreans, 11 Sudanese, 14 Afghans, three Somalis, and 77 Iranians. The scheme is open to failed asylum seekers and those who have overstayed their visas.

The financial cost of the program has risen steadily, with government outlays reaching approximately £35 million from July 2023 to March 2024. Recent reports suggest the total expenditure has surpassed £40 million. The Home Office defended the expenditure, emphasizing that voluntary returns are considerably less costly than enforced removals.

However, the program has faced criticism from opposition figures. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described the approach as an ineffective use of public funds, arguing that it amounts to "paying illegal immigrants to leave instead of stopping them arriving."

The assisted voluntary return scheme is intended to facilitate the departure of individuals without legal permission to remain in the UK, aiming to provide a humane and cost-efficient alternative to compulsory deportation. The mixed levels of participation from different migrant groups highlight varying responses to the incentives and reflect broader challenges in managing migration flows.