France lets 96% of failed asylum seekers stay

LESS than 4 per cent of migrants refused asylum in France were deported last year, an official report has revealed.

Figures show that just 1,432 of 40,206 failed asylum seekers were removed by the French government. Prime minister Manuel Valls said the deportation figure did not include those who chose to leave voluntarily or who successfully appealed against the decisions.

His government claims that the total figure for those who left after having their claim rejected was about 20 per cent. However, this is still much lower than Britain, where 76 per cent of those refused asylum last year ended up leaving.

Critics claim the figures show that tens of thousands of migrants who should be sent home are being allowed to stay in France where they can try to get to neighbouring countries such as Britain.

They accused officials in Paris of making the situation at Calais worse by failing to manage the migration crisis using deportations. Ukip MEP Mike Hookem said: ‘France is making a mockery of their own process and also putting neighbouring countries at risk.

‘Those who are told they will not be accepted in France may well reach the conclusion that they will have more luck trying to get to Britain.’

The criticism comes with the number of people living in the ‘Jungle’ camp in Calais having reached 6,000. Another 2,000 are thought to be staying near the port of Dunkirk.