Home Office in new deportation row as lawyers seek to block removal of Channel migrants amid fears they are victims of trafficking
- Migrants are due to be flown to Germany, Spain and France on charter flights
- Campaigners say they include suspected victims of trafficking and forced labour
- Comes after Home Office blocked from deporting 23 serious criminals last week
The Home Office is facing a fresh deportation row as lawyers seek to block the removal of Channel migrants this week.
Migrants from countries including Sudan are due to be flown to Germany, Spain and France on four charter flights.
Under EU rules migrants who have already claimed refugee status in another EU country can be returned there.
But campaigners say they include suspected victims of trafficking and forced labour.
Sarah Teather, director of Jesuit Refugee Service UK, has accused the Government of ‘a complete disregard for human life’ and of ‘rushing’ ahead with the removals ahead of Brexit.
Under EU rules migrants who have already claimed refugee status in another EU country can be returned ther
Last week the Home Office was blocked from deporting 23 serious criminals to Jamaica after an 11th-hour legal challenges
Last week the Home Office was blocked from deporting 23 serious criminals to Jamaica after 11th-hour legal challenges backed by Labour MPs and celebrities.
Lawyers acting for the asylum seekers set to be deported this week say they have not been asked two key questions – ‘Why have you come to the UK?’ and ‘Please outline your journey to the UK’ – which are intended to identify vulnerabilities.
An interim high court ruling last month ordered the Home Office to reinstate the two questions, The Observer reported.
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘All individuals due to be removed have or will have been through a screening interview, which includes updated questions on trafficking, prior to removal. To suggest otherwise is inaccurate.’