𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Britain’s asylum crisis has led to a “complete systemic breakdown” as the vast majority of Channel migrants are dodging deportations. A staggering 96,002 asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Eritrea have arrived in small boats between 2018 and 2025. But only 495 – 0.5% – have been sent back to these countries in seven years.

New figures, obtained for the first time by the Daily Express, also reveal more small boat migrants have been returned to Ireland, 57, than Syria, 55 and Afghanistan, 16. And the same number have been sent back to Somalia and Tunisia, as well as to the United States of America – all 3. Rob Bates, of the Centre for Migration Control, said: “These cohorts are ‘unremovable’ until we leave the ECHR and overhaul outdated human rights laws. They are not fit for the modern era.” Delays in removing small boat arrivals increase the likelihood of successful claims and appeals as people get married, have families and strengthen their “ties” to the UK.

Reform’s Zia Yusuf told the Daily Express: “The latest figures expose the reality that successive governments have lost control of our borders. Ministers are attempting to gaslight the public into believing removals are improving when the truth is starkly different.

“Deportations have plummeted over the past decade while illegal immigration has surged to record levels, and the public have had enough. The numbers speak for themselves. Returns to countries have collapsed. Deportations to Pakistan have fallen from over 5,000 in 2015 to barely 1,200 last year, and Bangladesh has seen an 86% drop. Across 122 countries, Britain is now returning fewer criminals, failed asylum seekers and visa overstayers.

“This is a complete systemic breakdown. Despite agreements existing, they are not being enforced. Even when Labour does reject asylum seekers, the vast majority stay anyway.”

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told the Daily Express: “The immigration system is totally broken. Illegal small boat immigrants never seem to get removed, so no wonder they keep flooding in, knowing they will almost certainly get to stay. Many go on to commit serious crimes, including murder, rape and the sexual assault of young girls. This situation is a disgrace.

“With almost none of certain nationalities – like Afghans – getting returned, it’s no surprise illegal immigrants keep flooding in. All illegal immigrants need to be deported within a week of arrival.

“Even Germany has sent some illegal immigrants back to Afghanistan. And if any countries won’t take back their nationals, we should use visa sanctions and withdraw aid to get them to change their mind, and use a safe third country like Rwanda if it is impossible to return to the country of origin.”

Some 7,534 small boat migrants have been removed since 2018, research by the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford – shared with the Daily Express – reveals.

The vast majority of the returns were to Albania. The overall number of small boat removals has increased marginally, fuelled by rising numbers of returns to France, Germany and Turkey. Only 16 people have been sent back to Afghanistan, with only two last year. By contrast, 27,422 Afghans have crossed the Channel in small boats since 2018.

Just 108 of the 30,269 Iranians who arrived by dinghy have been deported to Iran and six to Eritrea between 2018 and 2025. Migration Observatory analysis shows 19,154 Eritreans have been detected leaving France. And 365 of the 19,157 Iraqis have been removed.

Only seven of the 12,633 Sudanese migrants to have crossed the Channel have left. The Home Office figures – obtained through Freedom of Information requests – also revealed 381 people have been booted out to Turkey between 2018 and 2025. Another 116 have been sent to Germany, and 51 to Italy.

In total, immigration officials have returned small boat migrants to 67 countries. This includes the United States of America, Dominica, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Poland, Spain and Switzerland. Some 41 countries have taken fewer than 10 small boat migrants back.

Only three Somalias to have crossed the Channel by dinghy have been returned. Some migrants have been sent back to European and other Western countries, such as the USA and Canada, as officials can prove they were once in the country.

The figures lay bare how difficult it is to remove the vast majority of small boat migrants. This is down to “endless” human rights claims and a lack of returns agreements. And some 107,003 people are being supported by taxpayers.

More asylum seekers are living in houses, flats and bedsits across the country, Home Office figures show. At least 68,538 are living in dispersal accommodation, up from 66,232 three months ago. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has vowed to talk to the Taliban if he wins the next election.

Mr Bates added: “These pitiful numbers reveal the failure of both Labour and the Tories to remove small boat migrants. The safety of the public has been jeopardised by inaction from those tasked with keeping the country safe.

“That the current government removed just two Afghans last year should be cause for serious concern. Most of the country can see, quite clearly, that deporting every individual who arrives via small boat is the only way to stop the flow.

“It beggars belief that those who govern us are unprepared to do what is in the national interest.”

It comes after the Sunday Express revealed the number of people being removed to countries accused of gaming the UK immigration system has plummeted.

Deportations to Pakistan plunged from 5,198 in 2015 to 1,237 in 2025. It comes as the number of asylum applications surged from 3,365 in 2015 to 10,638. But the number of removals hit a low of 411 in 2021. Returns to Bangladesh fell from 2,302 in 2015 to 312, removals to Jamaica plummeted from 524 to just 63 over the same decade and the number of people being booted out to Sri Lanka dropped from 1,162 to 277.

In total, 122 countries are taking back fewer criminals, failed asylum seekers and visa overstayers. A Home Office spokesperson said: “This government is getting the asylum system moving again, with the number of people waiting for an initial asylum decision down nearly 50% since the election.

“We are removing the incentives that draw illegal migrants to this country and nearly 60,000 illegal migrants and foreign criminals have been returned or deported from the UK under this government – up nearly a third on the 19 months prior.”