Child asylum seekers deported to Afghanistan


by Newswire    
9:00 am - June 8th 2010

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The UK Border Agency is to set up a £4m “reintegration centre” in Afghanistan so that it can start deporting unaccompanied child asylum seekers to Kabul from Britain, the Guardian can disclose.

The terms of the official tender for the centre show that immigration officials initially hope to forcibly return 12 boys a month aged under 18 to Afghanistan and provide “reintegration assistance” for 120 adults a month.

Home Office figures show there are more than 4,200 unaccompanied child asylum seekers in Britain, with most being supported in local authority social services homes. Those from Afghanistan are the largest group. Of the 400 minors claiming asylum in the first three months of this year, almost half were Afghans.

A decision to start deporting Afghan child asylum seekers who arrive in Britain alone would amount to a major shift in policy. Up until now, child protection issues and an undertaking that failed child asylum seekers would be returned only if adequate reception and care arrangements were in place for them on arrival have blocked returns.

…more at the Guardian

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Reader comments


1. douglas clark

Why?

It appears, at first blush, a complete waste our money. We could make these kids richer if we didn’t have ridiculous immgration rules.

2. damon

”At first blush” seems to be the problem Douglas Clark.

Have a look at this story,

http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/croydonnews/3935121.Asylum_seeker_wins_court_review_based_on_his_genitals/

Is it better for Croydon to become a destination for these young lads to aim for?

My sister works (in Croydon) with these under 18 year old asylum seekers like these as her job.

What’s better for these lads (in Britain) and their cousins and brothers still at the moment in Afghanistan is a good question.

3. damon

Would it be good to have some young men being sent back to Afghanistan and housed in some modern facility and to be integrated back in to their own society ….. and be able to tell their brothers and friends that the streets of London (and Croydon) were not paved with gold afterall?

Although the sound of their adventures travelling all over Europe and their time in Calais living in The Jungle and trying to sneak onto lorries, might actually sound really glamorus to some young men who have never left their village. The pull of the call to ‘Go West young man’ might be just too strong.

Because that’s really what we are dealing with here. An urge for migration that has pushed millions to seek new lives in a unknown and distand land for hundreds of years.

The knee jerk left/liberal response to headlines like the Guardian’s are not good ones IMO.
”OMG they’re deporting children!!”

If the argument is (by the sound of what Douglas Clark was saying) that we should open up our borders to young people from places like Afghanistan, as they can surely have a brighter future in the UK than at home ……. then fair enough lets argue for that. And set up a programme like Australia had years ago when they were calling out for people to move to Australia under their ”ten pound pom” scheme.

If you think that British soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan should be handing out leaflets as they patrol, inviting people to apply to immigrate to the UK, then let’s just say it.

I would be broadly in favor of such an initiative myself. Even though I think it would be rather unpopular nationally.


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