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Deportation: Democratic Republic of Congo

Answer

[holding answer 12 September 2007]: The table shows the number of failed asylum applicants removed to Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between January and June 2007 inclusive. This is the latest six-month period for which figures are available.Information on the total number of persons removed between January and June 2007 (including non-asylum cases) is not available for release under National Statistics protocols.On 23 August 2007, Justice Collins ordered that the removal of all unsuccessful asylum seekers to DRC must be deferred until the Country Guidance case is determined. In line with the High Court's decision of 23 August 2007, the Border and Immigration Agency will not enforce the removal of Congolese asylum seekers to DRC until the Asylum Immigration Tribunal (AIT) has substantively considered the pending Country Guidance case. The High Court's decision, however, applies only to unsuccessful asylum seekers and we shall continue to remove immigration offenders who are Congolese nationals and have no legal right to remain in the UK. There are currently no legal impediments stopping us from removing to Congo those Congolese nationals with no right to remain in the UK.The Government are committed to providing protection to those individuals who are found to be in fear of persecution. It is only right that we provide that protection, but equally, it is only right that we enforce the return of those who have no right to remain here: this is a key part to upholding a robust and fair asylum system.Copies of statistics publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:"http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html"

Removals, voluntary departures and assisted returns¹ of asylum applicants², including dependants, to Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo, January—June 2007³,4
Number of removals
Destination	January	February	March	April	May	June	January-June total
Congo	5	*	5	5	5	5	25
Democratic Republic of Congo	10	40	10	15	5	10	90
¹ Includes enforced removals, persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration and those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities.
² Persons who had sought asylum at some stage, including dependants.
³ Figures are rounded to the nearest five, (* = 1 or 2), and may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding.
4 Provisional figures.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

155330; 463 c2355-6W

Session

2006-07

Subjects

Deportation Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of Congo

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk