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Asylum children face deportation Asylum children face deportation
(about 1 hour later)
Unaccompanied child asylum seekers who have been denied the right to stay in the UK are to be deported, the government has announced. Unaccompanied child asylum seekers who are denied the right to stay in the UK are to be deported before they reach 18, the government has announced.
Currently, the Immigration Service waits until the young person turns 18 before beginning proceedings.Currently, the Immigration Service waits until the young person turns 18 before beginning proceedings.
Children's rights campaigners fear the move will mean young people could be put at risk by being sent back. Children's rights campaigners say the move could put those being sent back at risk on their return.
The government said authorities would not deport children until they were "100% sure" of a safe reception.The government said authorities would not deport children until they were "100% sure" of a safe reception.
About 2,000 unaccompanied children seek asylum in the UK every year.About 2,000 unaccompanied children seek asylum in the UK every year.
These are not children who come here seeking a better life, with their families waiting for them in peaceful homes Donna Covey, Refugee Council These are not children who come here seeking a better life, with their families waiting for them in peaceful homes Donna Covey Refugee Council
Immigration minister Liam Byrne said the current policy was a "green light" to organised gangs of child traffickers who knew children would not be sent home once they were in the country.Immigration minister Liam Byrne said the current policy was a "green light" to organised gangs of child traffickers who knew children would not be sent home once they were in the country.
But Donna Covey, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: "The government should not try to force any child to return against their wishes where their safety and welfare cannot be guaranteed.But Donna Covey, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: "The government should not try to force any child to return against their wishes where their safety and welfare cannot be guaranteed.
"These are not children who come here seeking a better life, with their families waiting for them in peaceful homes. Many of them are children from war zones. "These are not children who come here seeking a better life, with their families waiting for them in peaceful homes. Many of them are children from war zones."
Children's charity the NSPCC said children who were frightened, alone and may not speak English would now be forced through an asylum process which was unsuitable for children.
It has called for the government to give separated children a right to an independent guardian to help them understand the process.
Dental X-rays
The policy change comes as Mr Byrne announced a series of measures aimed at handling child asylum claims "swiftly and compassionately".The policy change comes as Mr Byrne announced a series of measures aimed at handling child asylum claims "swiftly and compassionately".
Other measures included: They include:
  • better procedures for identifying and supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children who are the victims of trafficking
  • better procedures for identifying and supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children who are the victims of trafficking
  • locating unaccompanied asylum seeking children with specialist local authorities to ensure they receive the services they need
  • locating unaccompanied asylum seeking children with specialist local authorities to ensure they receive the services they need
  • speedier decisions on immigration status to ensure integration into the UK or fast return to a safe country of origin
  • speedier decisions on immigration status to ensure integration into the UK or fast return to a safe country of origin
    The Home Office also announced it was consulting on a new code of practice on how immigration officers deal with children. The government will also introduce new procedures to assess the ages of asylum seekers to help stop adults posing as children.
    It is also consulting on whether the UK should extend its commitment to the UN convention on rights of the child to include immigration cases. One suggestion, which will be consulted on further, was to force asylum seekers to undergo dental X-ray checks to assess their age.
    Critics though said it was a step towards treating youngsters as suspect immigrants, not children.
    The Home Office also announced it was consulting on a new code of practice on how immigration officers deal with children and on whether the UK should extend its commitment to the UN convention on rights of the child to include immigration cases.
    This would follow the lead of most other European countries.This would follow the lead of most other European countries.