British Home Office data shows that more than 50,000 illegal immigrants, including 1,200 foreign criminals, are on the fugitive list/Photo: Sky News
More than 50,000 illegal immigrants, including around 1,200 foreign criminals, have been registered as missing from the UK immigration system after failing to maintain contact with authorities, according to a report by The Telegraph.The newspaper reported that the figures, dating back to December 2024 and reviewed by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, list more than 50,000 fugitives in government records.The total includes rejected asylum seekers who allegedly disappeared after their claims were rejected, migrants who arrived in the UK but then disappeared while on immigration bail, and foreign national criminals who avoided deportation after serving prison sentences.Under UK immigration rules, people released on immigration bail must make regular reports to the Home Office. Those who fail to do so may be classified as fugitives and become subject to enforcement action, including arrest and detention.The number of those fleeing exceeds the number of current asylum applications accumulated awaiting the initial decision of the Ministry of Interior. Government figures for March showed that 48,758 asylum seekers were still awaiting an initial decision on their claims.
The report comes ahead of new immigration legislation expected to be introduced next week. The proposed measures aim to make it more difficult for migrants to use human rights protections and modern slavery claims to delay or prevent deportation.A Home Office source told The Telegraph that the previous government’s handling of the asylum system was “chaotic”, adding that poor data management and a growing backlog of asylum applications had contributed to the current situation.The source also said immigration enforcement funding has been increased from £681m in 2023-24 to £1.33bn by 2028-29, while the number of law enforcement officers is expected to rise from 4,500 to 7,300.Nearly 70,000 illegal immigrants and criminal aliens have been deported from the UK since July 2024, including around 10,000 criminal aliens. About 19,800 foreign criminals currently live in the community awaiting deportation.The Home Office is also investing a further £10 million in new reporting systems, including digital self-service kiosks, along with a further £3 million to improve the technology used to track historical escapes.