Children Could Be Deported Under Labours Immigration Crackdown

Children could be deported as part of Shabana Mahmood’s immigration crackdown, it has emerged.

A 33-page document published by the Home Office setting out the government’s plans says current rules create “perverse incentives” to put under-18s on small boats.

That is because the UK does not “prioritise” the deportation of families, even if their asylum claims have been rejected.

“As a result, many families of failed asylum seekers continue to live in this country, receiving free accommodation and financial support, for years on end,” the Home Office document said.

The revelation is set to further anger Labour MPs who are already opposed to Mahmood’s shake-up of the asylum system.

“Our hesitancy around returning families creates particularly perverse incentives,” the Home Office said. “To some, the personal benefit of placing a child on a dangerous small boat outweighs the considerable risks of doing so.

“Once in the UK, asylum seekers are able to exploit the fact that they have had children and put down roots in order to thwart removal, even if their claim has been legally refused.”

The government said around 700 Albanian families whose asylum claims have been rejected are currently still living in the UK.

In future, those families will be offered money to go back to their home countries, and if that fails, officials will “escalate to an enforced return”.

The document said: “We will launch a consultation on the process for enforcing the removal of families, including children.”

The Home Office also confirmed plans to make refugee status temporary, with those given asylum in the UK being deported back to their home country once it is deemed to be safe.

The length of time it takes to gain permanent residence in Britain will be quadrupled five to 20 years as ministers try to reduce the so-called “pull factors” which they say make the UK so attractive to immigrants.

Human rights law will also be overhauled to prevent it from being used to frustrate deportations.

High value items like jewellery will also be removed from asylum seekers and sold to help cover their accommodation costs.

Mahmood has said the changes, which are inspired by Denmark’s tough approach to immigration, are needed because high levels of immigration have “destabilised communities”.

But increasing numbers of Labour MPs have spoken out against the plans, with one branding them “dystopian”.