Home Office officials have acknowledged that the whereabouts of more than 17,000 asylum seekers, whose claims have been discontinued, are unknown. This startling information came to light during a discussion among Members of Parliament (MPs) regarding UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s ambitious target to clear the asylum backlog by the end of 2023, as reported by BBC News.
The Home Office has withdrawn a substantial number of asylum applications, citing claimants’ failure to respond. A senior official candidly admitted to the home affairs select committee, “I don’t think we know where all these people are.” When questioned about the possibility of individuals returning to their home countries, Simon Ridley, a senior civil servant in the Home Office, conceded that he did not possess that information.
Officials informed the committee that claims are withdrawn when asylum seekers do not respond to two successive case worker interview requests or questionnaires. Since December 2022, this has occurred a staggering 17,316 times. In 2021, 2,141 applications were either refused or withdrawn, a far cry from the 24,403 refusals or withdrawals recorded in 2004.
Once an application is withdrawn, it signifies that it is no longer under consideration. If the claimant remains in the UK, they are deemed to be residing illegally and are subject to removal.
Recent figures reveal that the number of cases in the so-called “legacy backlog” stood at 39,668 as of the end of September 2023. This backlog pertains to asylum claims made before June 2022. Sir Matthew Rycroft, the Home Office’s most senior civil servant, expressed confidence that the government would meet the prime minister’s target, emphasizing the recruitment of additional case workers to assess claims.
However, Conservative MP Tim Loughton, a member of the select committee, questioned the sudden increase in cases where individuals did not proceed with their claims, suggesting a correlation with the stringent target set by the government.
As the government pushes forward with plans to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda, officials find themselves under increasing pressure. Sir Matthew informed MPs that discussions were underway in Kigali, with the aim of finalizing a plan that had previously been deemed unlawful by the Supreme Court. The court expressed concerns that asylum seekers sent to Rwanda might face deportation to their home countries, violating both UK and international human rights laws.
To address these concerns, the Home Office is negotiating a treaty that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak believes will alleviate the Supreme Court’s reservations about Rwanda being a safe third country.
The government asserts that this relocation strategy will deter individuals from using small boats to cross the English Channel. However, as of November 13, 2023, 27,284 people had already crossed the English Channel in small boats this year.
Questions have arisen regarding the financial aspects of the government’s dealings with Rwanda, particularly concerning undisclosed payments. Sir Matthew hinted at the possibility of additional payments but refrained from divulging specific details, citing a government decision to withhold this information until the summer.
Committee chairwoman Dame Diana Johnson expressed frustration, stating that the delayed release of financial figures made it challenging to scrutinize the flagship policy effectively. This raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the implementation of Home Office initiatives, particularly in the context of asylum seekers and the management of the backlog.
