(Ecofin Agency) - The UK-Rwanda migration partnership, intended to send asylum seekers arriving illegally in the UK to Rwanda, has been canceled. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled the program "expensive and ineffective."

In his first announcement since taking office, Starmer declared the plan "dead and buried before it started." This controversial project aimed to deter illegal arrivals by relocating them to Rwanda. Starmer dismissed it as a deterrent, pointing to its high cost and lack of efficacy.

Government data shows 7,567 people arrived in the UK on small boats between January 1 and April 30, 2024. The Rwanda deportation plan was a contentious issue in former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's administration. Sunak prioritized this policy, believing it would curb Channel crossings. However, the initiative faced numerous legal challenges, and no flights ever took place.

In March, the UK's National Audit Office revealed the partnership would have cost the UK £370 million ($468 million). Rwanda has yet to comment on the UK's decision to cancel the plan.