The Government’s struggle to deport illegal immigrants and foreign criminals, even when they request to go back home, has been revealed in shocking figures. According to Labour analysis, the number of migrants sent home after asking to be deported has dropped by 40 percent over the past decade.
Under the Voluntary Returns Service, migrants without the right to live in the UK who choose to return home can receive assistance. However, the Home Office has seen a decrease in removals processed, from 31,762 in 2010 to 19,253 last year. Labour attributes this decline to Government “chaos” rather than a decrease in requests.
In a recent Commons session, Labour MP Jessica Morden highlighted the case of a convicted sex offender who has been waiting over three years to be returned to Iraq, despite offering to pay for his own flight. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper criticized the delays, stating that it showcases the chaos and incompetence within the Home Office under the Conservative government.
A source close to Home Secretary James Cleverly dismissed Labour’s criticism as hypocritical, emphasizing that Labour has consistently voted against Conservative measures to control immigration and secure borders. The Home Office defended its record, noting a 74 percent increase in voluntary and enforced returns between 2022 and 2023.