Over 17,000 Migrants Vanish Without a Trace, Admit Home Office

Bungling Officials Lose Track of Asylum Seekers

Yesterday, the Home Office admitted that more than 17,000 migrants have vanished without a trace. Sir Matthew Rycroft and Simon Ridley, civil servants with the Home Office, revealed that they have lost track of these individuals.

Criticism Mounts as MPs Grill Home Office Bosses

During a grueling Commons grilling, MPs criticized the "clueless" officials for their handling of the situation. They were questioned about the 17,316 asylum seekers whose claims were withdrawn last year due to their failure to attend interviews or stay engaged in the process. When pressed on the whereabouts of these individuals, Ridley admitted, "In most cases, I don't know where those people are."

Concerns Over Detention and Removal of Migrants

The majority of asylum seekers are not detained and are free to move around as long as they regularly check in with the Home Office. New powers to detain and remove illegal migrants have not yet been used due to the courts hampering the Rwanda plan. Shadow Immigration Minister Stephen Kinnock criticized the Home Office officials, stating, "Under the Tories, 17,000 asylum seekers have gone missing."

Lack of Information Sparks Outrage

Home Office officials also faced criticism for their inability to provide information on the number of small boat arrivals sent back in the last three years. Labour's Home Affairs Committee chair Dame Diana Johnson questioned, "Do we have any figures about anything?" The lack of answers led to frustration among MPs.

Additional Payments to Rwanda

While unable to provide concrete details, Sir Matthew hinted that Britain was sending Rwanda additional financial support on top of the £140 million already paid. He confirmed that "there are additional payments each year," but these figures will only be revealed annually. The Home Office is currently finalizing a new treaty with Kigali to facilitate removal flights.

Astonishment and Calls for Accountability

The revelation of over 17,000 missing asylum seekers has been met with astonishment from Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper. She described it as "astonishing." MP Lee Anderson criticized the Home Office bosses for their lack of knowledge and called for accountability.