Fewer than 2% of Afghan and 5% of Pakistani asylum seekers deported from Britain last year

George Bunn
Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:14:48 +0000

Fewer than two per cent of asylum seekers from Afghanistan and five per cent from Pakistan were removed from the UK last year.

New data has suggested over 40,000 asylum cases in total were lodged with the Home Office, but only 285 people were removed.

The research suggests just 123 asylum seekers from Afghanistan were removed last year out of 6,462 claimants, a return rate of 1.9 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Home Office has suggested the data includes asylum seekers who have had their initial claims refused but have not exhausted their appeals rights and therefore not eligible for return.

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The analysis, conducted by The Telegraph, showed that just 82 asylum seekers were returned out of a total of 7,419 applicants from Iran.

Asylum seekers from Eritrea, the country that makes up for the largest number of small boat migrants crossing the channel, accounted for 8,948 asylum claims, but just 64 were returned.

The highest number of asylum claims last year came from Pakistan, which registered 10,638 claims, with only 450 being returned to their home country, a removal rate of just 4.2 per cent.

As a result of the lack of deportations, thousands of migrants are living in accommodation, including hotels and HMOs.

Senior Conservative MP and shadow minister Neil O’Brien said: "The reason that asylum claims have risen to a record high under Labour is that migrants know that if they can get to the UK, they will be able to stay, one way or another.

"If they aren’t immediately granted asylum, they can make an unlimited number of new claims while here and so get it granted on appeal. And even if they don’t eventually get it granted, they can just disappear.

"The number of people actually being sent home is pitifully low for so many countries."

Former borders inspector John Vine has called on Labour to get tough with countries such as Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, which accounted for nearly 25,000 applications collectively.

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Earlier this month, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood signed a three-year agreement with France to pay £662million to support beach patrols as part of efforts to drive down the number of arrivals.

The Home Office said the arrangement would see officers "targeting and detaining" migrants on the French coast with the aim of removing hundreds of small boat migrants from beaches every year to stop them entering the water.

It means the UK will hand over £501million to cover five police units and enforcement activity on French beaches, with an extra £160million only paid if new tactics to curb Channel crossings succeed.

If efforts fail, the additional funding will stop after a year, the Home Office said. Ministers have, however, stopped short of setting specific targets to measure the success of the deal.

A Home Office spokesman told GB News the number of people awaiting an initial asylum decision at the end of December 2025 was down 48 per cent from the end of the same time in 2024.

They told The People's Channel: "Nearly 60,000 illegal migrants and foreign criminals have been removed or deported from the UK since the 2024 election – up nearly a third on the 19 months prior.

"We have taken action against countries who fail to cooperate with the return of their citizens, and we’re ready to hit other nations that won’t play ball, with visa penalties and full visa bans if necessary.

"We are also reforming how human rights laws are applied to prevent migrants from frustrating their removal with bogus appeals."