New measures published by the Ministry of Justice show new moves to stop failed asylum seekers from absconding. Asylum seekers will no longer be notified immediately when they lose their appeals so to prevent them from absconding before they can be removed from Britain.
Currently, the Applicant is notified of the immigration tribunal’s final decision at the same time as the Home Office, giving them the opportunity to go underground to avoid being sent back to their home country.
However, under secondary legislation published by ministers the immigration service will be given a “heads up” before the asylum seeker is notified of the outcome.
It will now be the Home Office’s duty to notify the Applicant of the decision – possibly allowing immigration officers to detain them on the spot if there is deemed to be a risk of them absconding.
The Telegraph reports that a Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “This amended procedural rule allows for the first-tier and upper tribunals to serve a final decision notice on the Home Office for onward service on the appellant, as they do with other types of asylum appeal decisions.”
“This will enable the Home Office to consider any additional arrangements that may be necessary when serving the decision on the appellant, such as taking measures to prevent the parties absconding or ensuring the vulnerable receive additional support.”
Sir Andrew Green, Chairman of Migration Watch UK, stated: “This is an entirely sensible step to take. Indeed it is overdue. Far too many failed asylum seekers are succeeding in staying on in Britain.”
Mark Reckless MP, a Conservative member of the Home Affairs Select Committee commented: “It is a very positive measure. One of the big problems with the existing system was tipping off asylum seekers about the decision so they had a chance to abscond.
Delaying notification about their decision until they are ready to deport them and not giving them notice should result in many more deportations and is something I strongly support.”
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