UK records more than 50,000 missing illegal immigrants, including 1,200 foreign criminals: Report | World News
More than 50,000 illegal immigrants, including around 1,200 foreign criminals, have been recorded as missing by the UK immigration system after failing to maintain contact with authorities, the Daily Telegraph reported.The newspaper reported that the figures, reviewed by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration and dating back to December 2024, listed more than 50,000 people as absconders in government records.These include failed asylum seekers who allegedly disappeared after their applications were refused, migrants who arrived in the UK but later disappeared while on immigration bail, and foreign criminals who avoided deportation after serving prison sentences.Under UK immigration rules, people on immigration bail must report regularly to the Home Office. Those who fail to do so may be classified as absconders and subject to law enforcement measures, including arrest and detention.The number of absconders exceeds the current asylum backlog awaiting a preliminary decision from the Home Office. Government figures for March showed 48,758 asylum seekers were still awaiting preliminary decisions on their applications.The report comes ahead of new immigration legislation expected to be introduced next week. The proposed measures aim to make it harder for migrants to use human rights protections and modern slavery claims to delay or prevent deportation.A Home Office source told The Telegraph the previous government’s handling of the asylum system was “chaotic”, adding that poor data management and a growing asylum backlog had led to the current situation.Sources also said that funding for immigration enforcement will increase from £681 million in 2023-24 to £1.33 billion in 2028-29, while the number of enforcement officers is expected to increase from 4,500 to 7,300.Since July 2024, nearly 70,000 illegal immigrants and foreign criminals have been deported from the UK, including around 10,000 foreign national criminals. About 19,800 foreign criminals currently live in the community, awaiting deportation.The Home Office is also investing an extra £10m in new reporting systems, including digital self-service kiosks, while a further £3m is being invested in improving technology to track historical absconding cases.
