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A MAJORITY of people who have crossed the Channel on small boats this year would be recognised as refugees if their application had been processed, analysis of government figures shows.
Contradicting ministers’ claims that most people crossing the Channel do not need protection, the report by the Refugee Council, released today, found that 74 per cent of those who have crossed the Channel this year – or 14,648 people – would be granted asylum in normal circumstances.
The study also found that once the Illegal Migration Act is fully enforced only 3.5 per cent of people arriving would be returned to their home countries every year.
Thousands of remaining migrants meanwhile would be left in limbo and could “disappear” into destitution on the margins of society.
The Act, hailed by the Tory government as key to deterring small boat crossings, became law on July 20.
The Refugee Council said its analysis shows the “human and financial costs” of the Act.
Under the new law, if someone has claimed asylum they can only be removed to their country of origin if they are from one of the 27 member states of the European Union or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or Albania.
Removals of other nationals must be made to a safe third country.
In the absence of functioning safe third-country agreements and with the Rwanda scheme still the focus of legal action, the remaining arrivals – estimated to be up to 35,409 a year – would be “stuck in permanent limbo, unable to get on with their lives,” the report said.
It added: “Organisations working with people in the asylum system and local authorities have told the Refugee Council they are seriously concerned about this and the impact it will have on very vulnerable people.”
Refugee Council chief operating officer Enver Solomon said Britain should not slam the door in the face of those who have faced atrocities such as torture, sexual coercion, slavery and exploitation.
He added: “Closing down the asylum system will simply result in vast cost, chaos and human misery with tens of thousands of people stuck in permanent limbo, likely to disappear into the margins of our communities, at risk of destitution, exploitation and abuse.”
The Home Office has been approached for comment.