The UK forcibly returned only 21 asylum seekers to “safe third countries” in the 18 months since Brexit came into effect, new figures show as the Rwanda scheme stalls.
Almost 16,000 asylum seekers were considered for removal because the government declared their claims “inadmissible” between 1 January 2021 and the end of June.
Statistics released by the Home Office showed that of those, only 21 people were removed from the UK, to countries including Ireland, Germany, Italy and Spain, after a key EU transfer deal in Brexit.
The government claimed it would replace the scheme with bilateral agreements, but none have been struck with EU nations and several told The Independent they would not negotiate such an agreement.
Ministers intend to make Rwanda a new “safe third country” to process asylum claims for the same cohort of people, but the scheme has been paused amid a series of legal challenges.
Afghans and Ukrainians have not been ruled out of the programme, which is based on the method of travel to the UK rather than whether someone is a refugee.
Under the UK’s internal immigration rules, it can declare asylum seekers “inadmissible” for consideration if they have travelled through and spent time in safe third countries, where they could have asked for protection.
Official Home Office guidance says an asylum seeker who “spent a couple of weeks in Brussels staying with friends whilst trying to find an agent to bring them illegally to the UK” could be declared inadmissible, and that officials should check for “material in their belongings such as receipts and tickets” from shops and transport.
The guidance says that removal to Rwanda should be considered if it “stands a greater chance” than removal to the country they are deemed to have a connection to.
Figures released on Thursday showed that 63,089 asylum applications, relating to 75,181 people, were made in the year ending June 2022 - the highest number in almost two decades.
More than three quarters of applications were granted at the first stage, and half of the refusals appealed were overturned.
Most asylum seekers are Iranian, followed by Albanians - who have rocketed rapidly amid a surge of arrivals from the country on small boats, Iraqs, Afghans, Eritreans and Syrians.
Just over half of Albanian asylum applications are currently granted, but Home Office officials believe the number could drop as Channel crossings rise.
Around 6,000 Albanians have arrived on small boats so far in 2022, and they make up between 50 to 60 per cent of daily crossings.
Since 2018, 94 per cent of migrants crossing the Channel in dinghies have claimed asylum. Half of the claims were granted, 43 per cent were declared “inadmissible” because of their time in safe third countries and only 8 per cent were refused.
