Responding to the Home Office’s quarterly immigration statistics released this morning, Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, said:

“The fact that the most recent data reveals that eight out of ten people were permitted to stay in the UK as refugees shows that those seeking safety on our shores are in genuine need of protection, having faced unimaginable atrocities including torture, sexual coercion, slavery and exploitation. Instead of pushing ahead with the Rwanda plan that will mean refugees will be forcibly shipped across the globe and treated like human cargo, we should be welcoming them into our communities and supporting them to rebuild their lives.

“Gross mismanagement of the asylum system has led to tens of thousands left in limbo in a huge backlog, causing significant cost and chaos with more than 55,000 people still placed in hotels. It is only going to get worse, with yet another backlog developing as people are once again left facing perpetual uncertainty because of the unworkable Rwanda plan causing more human misery.

“The government needs to change course and commit to upholding the right to a fair hearing on UK soil and operating a humane and compassionate asylum system.”