Home Office didn’t ship officers to rejected migrant’s enchantment hearings

Figures obtained beneath the Freedom of Information Act present a surprising one in 4 enchantment hearings went forward in 2022 with out an immigration officer current to defend their resolution.

Overall, 23 per cent of the 20,940 immigration appeals heard at first-tier tribunals weren’t attended by a Home Office consultant.

And at these 4,853 hearings, 3,070 migrants gained their enchantment – 63 per cent.

By distinction, lower than half (47 per cent) of appeals had been gained by migrants on the 16,087 hearings the place a Home Office official was current.

Natalie Elphicke, MP for Dover, stated there may be “no excuse” for Home Office immigration officers failing to attend these tribunal hearings.

She stated: “There’s simply no excuse for Home Office officials failing to turn for these important hearings

“Urgent action is required by the Home Office to prevent the risk of failed Asylum Seekers wrongfully being given right to remain in Britain simply because a Home Office official can’t be bothered to turn up.”

Dr. Mike Jones, Executive Director of impartial think-tank, Migration Watch UK, accused the Home Office of “fast-tracking bogus asylum claims” to compensate for a “broken” system.

He stated: “I can’t recall a time when our borders have been under so much pressure.

“The hasty implementation of first-tier tribunals has not inspired confidence nor improved the efficiency of the asylum system.

“On the contrary, we are fast-tracking bogus asylum claims to compensate for the inequities of a broken asylum system.

“We need immigration officers present at these tribunals to ensure that illegal economic migrants are detected and deported.

“The British people are sick and tired of being taken for mugs by activist lawyers and NGOs.”

A Home Office spokeswoman pressured that the Government division recognises the significance of guaranteeing instances which progress to an enchantment profit from illustration, however stated it isn’t at all times potential to area a consultant.

She stated the Home Office goals to maintain the variety of unrepresented instances to a minimal and tries to match its capability to the calls for of the enchantment system by deploying Presenting Officers to the instances the place their enter is required most.

The Home Office spokeswoman stated: “The reasons why immigration appeal hearings are won or lost are varied.

“It is important to have representatives at appeals and look to ensure that Home Office representatives attend hearings where they can have the greatest impact.

“This approach is kept under constant review and supported by an on-going recruitment programme to ensure we have Presenting Officers available nationwide.”

The information pertains to first-tier tribunal immigration hearings heard in 2022 for important candidates and doesn’t embrace dependents.

The statistics have been taken from a stay operational database, so numbers could change as data on the system is up to date.