Asylum removals down leaving government short of target

The number of failed asylum seekers being removed fell by 5 per
cent in April to June this year on the same period last year,
according to quarterly statistics out today, writes Amy
Taylor.

The 3,590 removals means the government will need to increase
deportations to meet its target of removing more failed asylum
seekers on a monthly basis than there are new unsuccessful claims
by the end of 2005.

The number of asylum applications excluding dependents fell by 21
per cent on the same period last year to 6,220.

The figures also show that the number of children held in detention
increased from 50 at the end of March to 70 at the end of June, and
that 95 asylum seekers were being detained in prison solely under
Immigration Act powers at the end of June.

Meanwhile, Harriet Anyangokolo, a Ugandan woman who had been on
hunger strike at Yarl’s Wood immigration detention centre for
29 days in protest at plans to deport her, was released yesterday
due to her asylum claim being reconsidered.

The Black Women’s Rape Action Project, a charity supporting
Anyangokolo, said that seven other Ugandan women in Yarl’s
Wood were also on hunger strike, though the Home Office claimed it
was just three.

The charity also alleges that Charity Mutewba, one of the hunger
strikers, was made to endure a 14-hour journey from Yarl’s
Wood to Dungavel detention centre despite not having eaten for 26
days. A Home Office spokesperson said that a risk assessment was
carried out before all transportations.

Quarterly asylum statistics from: www.homeoffice.gov.uk