UK immigration deportations are not happening
March 15 2010 by Liam Clifford
New figures released by UK immigration show that only a third of failed asylum seekers are being deported.
The statistics from the Home Office relate to the last two-years and show that in 2008 over 27,000 failed claimants were told that they were not eligible for a UK visa and must leave the country, however, less than 8,000 were deported. That means the remaining numbers are unaccounted for or are still in the country awaiting removal.
This has considerable consequences for the welfare system in the country, as people that are not supposed to be living here are currently claiming state hand-outs such as jobseekers allowance and housing benefit.
Of the removal notices served during the 2008 period only 7,850 have been forcibly ejected. This has left a benefits bill of £73million during 2007-8, a rise of over £4 million from 5 years ago.
The UK immigration minister Phil Woolas has constantly derided his own removal system and reiterated his stance towards the problem; "The removal process is sometimes delayed by applicants who frustrate it by further legal challenges.
“Difficulties in deporting people to some countries and the reluctance of some individuals to comply with documentation requirements have further hindered the process.”
The Labour government have previously come under fire for their policy on paying ex-convicts to return to their countries rather than clogging up the UK immigration appeal system.
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