APPENDIX 35
Memorandum submitted by Sheffield City
Council
1. TARGETS FOR
REMOVALS
It is not possible to predict exactly how many
people will claim asylum at any one time, and therefore to set
targets on how many should be removed if their application is
turned down is problematic.
The international climate is far from static,
and it is not possible to predict at any one time which countries
are "safe" for asylum seekers to return to.
The system for removing failed asylum seekers
is inefficient. There does not appear to be any joined up working
between various Government offices. Once a negative decision is
made there is often no action taken by immigration officials to
physically remove "failed" asylum seekers and people
are "allowed" to disappear, with often no attempts made
to track people down.
With proper funding the removals process could
be made firmer and fairer, enabling Immigration officials to visit
addresses immediately after negative decisions have been communicated
to households and begin the removals process.
2. MOST EFFECTIVE
AND HUMANE
METHODS OF
REMOVAL
The process of removals needs to be open and
in order for it to be effective there needs to be close liaison
between local authority asylum teams, private accommodation providers
and immigration officials.
Currently, the lack of a comprehensive removals
process means that large numbers of asylum seekers are destitute,
this is not acceptable. Support should be available to all failed
asylum seekers until such time as their removal can be effected.
Removals can be carried out on routine charter
flights, thereby removing some of the stigma, Communication between
the relevant Government offices would facilitate the speedy removal,
reducing the need to use detention centres and also reducing the
length of time that failed asylum seekers need to be supported.
The International Organisation for Migration
(IOM) could take over responsibility for overseeing all removals,
offering a dignified return and enabling failed asylum seekers
to claim financial support and tools to facilitate self-sufficiency
in their country of origin.
3. CONSTRAINTS
ON REMOVALS
TO SPECIFIC
COUNTRIES
Many countries have little or no infrastructure,
many countries are in a state of lawlessness where it would not
be safe, or humane, to return failed asylum seekers to.
It is not possible to safely land an aircraft
in some countries and this render removals impossible.
As previously mentioned, the international climate
is in a constant state of change and the ability to carry out
safe, humane removals to any one country is also subject to change.
4. COMPASSIONATE
FACTORS
There are an increasing number of children born
in the UK to asylum seeking parents, who obviously have no knowledge
of their parents country of origin. Children have become assimilated
into British culture, and to return them to what will be a foreign
country to them would leave them culturally isolated and disjointed.
There have also been a number of cases of unaccompanied
asylum seeking children (UASC) being returned to their country
of origin once they reach 18 years of age. Some of these young
people have been living in the UK for a considerable length of
time and have established themselves into local communities and
are studying at college. Given the shortage of young people in
the labour market it might be prudent to allow these young people
to remain and make a positive contribution to the economy.
Serious consideration also needs to be given
to the issue of returning people who are suffering from serious
illnesses for which they will not receive treatment, if they are
returned to their country of origin.
5. INCENTIVES
TO LEAVE
VOLUNTARILY AND
TO ASSIST
WITH RESETTLEMENT
With respect to UASC the Home Office have advised
that young people are not being returned without plans to rehabilitate
them with family or at suitable reception centres, however, there
is little detail on how this actually works.
The IOM return programme could be extended to
all failed asylum seekers. The reintegration fund could be increased,
thereby assisting more failed asylum seekers to re-settle in their
country of origin through the provision of financial assistance
and employment opportunities.
October 2002
| 
