'More claims, more illegal migrants in hotels and almost no removals'

LABOUR’s asylum crisis is deepening with the number of migrants living in hotels rocketing 13% amid a record amount of claims for sanctuary.

- BY MICHAEL KNOWLES Home Affairs Editor

Some 36,273 are now being hosted in taxpayer-funded rooms compared with 32,041 in June.

Meanwhile, asylum claims hit 110,051 for the year to September — the bulk of them from small boat arrivals or visa recipients “gaming the system”.

Oxford University’s Migration Observatory said asylum claimants made up 44% of net migration in the year to June. But the proportion has since grown as claims increased while net migration fell.

Separate Home Office research showed more than half of those granted refugee status, which gives them the right to work, are unemployed. The study examined people with refugee status, which lasts for five years, as well as those with indefinite leave to remain.

The employment rate amongst refugees reached 45% after two years and 48% after eight, heightening fears they will cost the taxpayer even more in benefits.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “The Government is allowing people into the country with temporary visas who then try to game our asylum system to stay permanently. This is an abuse of our visa system.

“The Government must urgently shut this down by being more selective about who they issue visas to and by making sure that only those with genuine asylum claims get it.

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“To do this we will need to come out of the ECHR. Only the Conservatives have a proper plan to do that.”

Mr Philp added: “Today’s figures blow apart every claim Labour has made about getting control. More asylum grants, more claims, more illegal immigrants in hotels and almost no removals of small boat migrants.

“This is an asylum system and illegal small boat immigration in freefall under a Labour government that is too weak to get a grip.”