UK to repatriate child refugees once they turn 18

[ahlam1399]

LONDON: Child refugees granted asylum in the UK are being sent back to countries deemed unsafe to visit once they have turned 18, it has been revealed.Young people have been returned to conflict-wracked nations which the Foreign Office advises against travelling to, including Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan and Sudan. Freedom of Information data from the Home Office showed 734 people granted asylum as children who had since turned 18 were removed from the UK between January 2015 and September last year.The data, requested by the Independent newspaper, revealed 19 people first granted UK asylum aged under 13 were later ejected. The Home Office said decisions to return a person who does not require international protection were only enforced when it was safe to do so.A total of 200 people previously granted asylum as children left the UK in 2015, with 238 departing in 2016, 199 in 2017 and 97 between January and September last year. Across these years, 141 individuals went to Afghanistan, 30 to Iraq and six to Somalia, among a total of 51 destinations.Many were sent to countries labelled less of a travel risk by the UK government, including 264 to Albania, 35 to France, 23 to Italy and 12 to Turkey. The most common nationalities among those leaving were Albanian (276 people) and Afghan (262).A total of 222 people granted asylum between the ages of 13 and 15 later had to leave the UK. A Home Office spokeswoman said: “The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need our protection, and we have provided protection to nearly 34,640 children since the start of 2010.“Where a decision has been made that a person does not require international protection, removal is only enforced when we conclude that it is safe to do so, with a safe route of return. All claims for asylum are considered on their individual merits. Where people establish a genuine need for protection, or a well-founded fear of persecution, refuge will be granted.”The Home Office said published data covered enforced and voluntary removals, with not all individuals returning to their country of origin. According to the department, unaccompanied children arriving in the UK, who do not qualify for international protection, will only be returned to their country of origin if it is deemed safe to do so.If it is not safe, the Home Office will grant the child temporary leave, known as UASC, which lasts for 30 months or until they are aged 17 and a half, whichever is the shorter period. Upon reaching that age, children should make preparations to return to their country of origin for when they turn 18 or apply to stay longer in the UK.Former unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who have turned 18 and have no legal basis to remain in the UK should leave voluntarily or their removal will be enforced.—PAhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/com/cwEr/~4/yRhJVxC5TJo

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