Illegal migrants: Civil Service can’t even process them properly, let alone deport them

Facts4EU.Org reveals the stark contrast between the Home Office’s treatment of EU citizens
– and its treatment of illegal migrants

Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2023

If we can process 6.7 million EU citizens, why can’t we process 143,377 illegal migrants?

On Monday (02 Jan 2023) we reported on the 85,000 illegal boat migrants who have come from Macron’s France since 2018, the numbers of which have been rising exponentially. Today we expose the astonishing backlog of the 143,377 migrants whose claims are awaiting even a first decision from the Home Office, let alone decisions on appeals if they are rejected.

We also reveal details of the extraordinary case of the thousands of illegal migrants from EU candidate country Albania and the Home Office’s application approval rate of more than 50% who have been granted residency.

Claims from all EU citizens sail through the Home Office, those from non-EU do not

As Facts4EU.Org reported in December (2022), the Home Office has processed 6.7 million applications from EU citizens to settle in the United Kingdom, under the terms of the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.

The civil servants have successfully concluded 97.3% of all applications from EU citizens and the only reason the rate isn’t 100% is because the Home Office inexplicably continues to accept very late applications, long after the deadline for the EU Settlement Scheme has passed.

The big question is how this compares to the Home Office’s performance when it comes to non-EU migrants.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

Asylum applications, official Home Office figures, as at 30 Sept 2022

  • Total in 12 mths to Sept 2022 : 72,027
  • Total outstanding as at 30 Sept 2022 : 143,377
  • Decisions made in year to 30 Sept 2022 : 16,400
  • That’s only 11.4% of the number currently outstanding

[Sources: House of Lords and Home Office.]

© Brexit Facts4EU.Org 2023 - click to enlarge

“As of the end of September, there were 117,400 cases, which related to 143,377 people awaiting an initial decision.”

- Lord Murray, Home Office Minister, House of Lords, 13 Dec 2022

There were 72,027 asylum applications (main applicants only) in the UK in the year ending September 2022, over double the number in 2019. This is higher than at the peak of the European migration crisis (36,546 in year ending June 2016) and is the highest number of applications for almost two decades (since 2003).

In the year ending September 2022, there were 16,400 initial decisions made on asylum applications. The number of decisions made are 21% below the numbers in 2019, before the Covid pandemic.

Why is the Home Office even considering 20,000 Albanian applications?

Albania is a scheduled safe country. It is a tourist destination for British holidaymakers, a NATO member and an approved EU candidate country. As such, asylum applications from Albanians can be deemed instantly inadmissible.

Given these facts, why is the Home Office so far approving 51.2% of Albanian asylum applications?

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

Home Office decisions on Albanian asylum applications

As at 30 Sept 2022, official Home Office figures

  • Approved : 51.2%
  • Rejected : 48.8%
  • Total applications outstanding : 19,897

[Sources: House of Lords and Home Office.]

© Brexit Facts4EU.Org 2023 - click to enlarge

How other countries deal with Albanian illegal migrants

Germany and Sweden can probably be called the ‘softest’ countries in the EU on the issue of immigration. Indeed, Sweden in recent years might have been considered the softest country on the planet, closely followed by Justin Trudeau’s Canada.

In Sweden’s case this has now changed, with the centre-right Sweden Democrats now holding the balance of power in the Swedish parliament. Nevertheless, here is what UK Prime Minister Sunak said about the problem of Albanian migrants, in the House of Commons before Christmas.

The Prime Minister on Albanian illegal migrants

“The Prime Minister of Albania himself has said there is no reason why we cannot return Albanian asylum seekers immediately.

“Last year, Germany, France, Belgium and Sweden all rejected almost 100% of Albanian asylum claims.”

- Prime Minister the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, House of Commons, 13 Dec 2022

The Government's solution seems to be to throw more money at the Home Office

“We have increased the number of asylum case workers by 112%, from 597 staff in 2019 to 1,276 as of this month, and we propose to increase that again next year with a further 500 in March 2023, up to 1,800 by the summer.”

- The Rt Hon the Lord Murray of Blidworth, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office, House of Lords, 13 Dec 2022

Observations

Taking back control - six and a half years after the EU Referendum

For Mr Sunak’s government to have any chance at all in the general election next year, he will have to get a grip on immigration very quickly. Readers will be aware of the latest polling, which indicates that the Conservative party will be wiped out in 2024 unless the voters change their opinion.

In our report above we have looked at overall numbers of ‘asylum seekers’ as well as the specific problem of Albanian illegal migrants. In many ways the latter issue highlights the endemic problems at the Home Office and perhaps helps to explain why the government is in such difficulties.

We suggest that one urgent measure is to get all civil servants back working in their offices. The Home Office staff in particular must be managed robustly, with daily targets. This is what would happen in the commercial world and ministers need to drive things. If not they will be out on their ears at the next election.

We must get reports like this out there

Reports like the one above take far longer to research, write and produce than many people realise. If they were easy, readers would see other organisations also producing these daily.

However, there’s little point in the Facts4EU.Org team working long hours, seven days-a-week, if we lack the resources to promote them effectively – to the public, to MPs, and to the media. This is where you come in, dear reader.

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[ Sources: Home Office | Hansard - House of Lords ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Wed 04 Jan 2023

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