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EU chiefs admit less than a third of failed asylum seekers are sent home, creating a pull factor for economic migrants to board smuggler boats

EUROPEAN governments are making the migrant crisis worse by failing to send illegal immigrants home when their claims for asylum are rejected, according to senior figures in Brussels.

Less than a third of those ordered to leaveare actually deported, creating a pull factor for economic migrants to join the tens of thousands of refugeesseeking to reach the EU.

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An economic migrant who survivesthe journey across the Mediterraneanhas a 73 per cent chance of stayingin the EU even if served with an orderto leave, official statistics show.

The latest figures for migrant arrivals also show a surge in arrivals from countries such as Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Banlgadesh, which have low ratesof recognition of refugee status compared to war-torn Syria.

It suggestsmany people may bemoving for economic reasons, reports The Times.

One EU diplomat working on migration told the paper: The inability of EU governmentsto enforce deportations is the biggest pull factor.

If people know that as illegal immigrants they have a 70 percent-plus chance of being able to stay,even if ordered to leave, then it is hardlysurprising people get into the boats.

David Wood, former director-generalof immigration enforcement at theHome Office, said: In reality thevast majority stay here, regardless ofthe merits of their application.

There were about 2.6 million asylum applications in the EU in 2015-16 withan average success rate of 57 per cent.

A report by the European Commission said governments were left with one millionpeople to deport, but they only hada rate ofeffective return to non-EU countriesof 36.4 per cent.

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The figure falls to 27 per cent when returns to Balkans states are excluded.

In a letter to governments in March, Commission president Jean-Claude Junckersaid: Only athird of those who should be returnedare effectively returned. This is notsustainable.

Yesterday the prime minister of Libya warned Europe will continue to face a terror threat unless it helps stem the flow of migrants through North Africa.

Last month Brussels officials admitted the migrant crisis will rage for decades after the Austrian army mobilised troops and tanks on the border to stop migrants arriving from Italy.

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Read more from the original source:
Weak EU governments 'are fuelling the migrant crisis by failing to send failed asylum seekers home' - The Sun