Child refugees granted asylum in the UK are being sent back to war zones once they have turned 18, it has been revealed.

Hundreds of people have been sent back to unsafe places such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Sudan – which the Foreign Office advises against travelling to.

Data released under the Freedom of Information act showed 734 people granted asylum as children who had since turned 18 were removed from the UK between January 2015 and September last year.

Young adults are being returned to war zones, including Afghanistan (Picture: AFP)

The data, requested by the Independent newspaper, revealed 19 people first granted UK asylum aged under 13 were later ejected.


A further 222 who were granted asylum between the ages of 13 and 15 also had to leave.



The Home Office said decisions to return a person who does not require international protection were only enforced when it was safe to do so.

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Between 2015 and 2018, 141 individuals went to Afghanistan, 30 to Iraq and six to Somalia, among a total of 51 destinations.

Experts said terror groups, such as Islamic State, operate in these areas and the young people being returned face death if it is discovered that they have lived in the UK.

Abdul Ghafoor, who runs the Afghanistan Migrants Advice and Support Organisation in Kabul, said: ‘Isis now have a very strong hold in the west of Afghanistan but even in Kabul they have gained more ground and have carried out deadly attacks – hundreds of people have been killed.

‘If they find any kind of evidence you have been to the UK or even doubt that you have been to Europe, that is the end of your story.’

Children are arriving in the UK to seek refuge, only to be sent back after they turn 18 (Picture: AFP)

Other experts said those young people will have trouble fitting back in with their old society if they have been ‘westernised.’

Liz Clegg, founder of the Meena Centre in Birmingham, which supports child refugees said: ‘The Home Office refuses to recognise westernisation as an issue.

‘They are changed people, they can never go back to what they were – many people would struggle to go back to countries that are very conservative.

‘Psychologically it’s a huge issue.’

Many were sent to countries labelled less of a travel risk by the UK government, including 264 to Albania, 35 to France, 23 to Italy and 12 to Turkey.

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A Home Office spokeswoman said: ‘The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need our protection, and we have provided protection to nearly 34,640 children since the start of 2010.

‘Where a decision has been made that a person does not require international protection, removal is only enforced when we conclude that it is safe to do so, with a safe route of return.

‘All claims for asylum are considered on their individual merits. Where people establish a genuine need for protection, or a well-founded fear of persecution, refuge will be granted.’

The Home Office said published data covered enforced and voluntary removals, with not all individuals returning to their country of origin.

According to the department, unaccompanied children arriving in the UK, who do not qualify for international protection, will only be returned to their country of origin if it is deemed safe to do so.



If it is not safe, the Home Office will grant the child temporary leave, known as UASC, which lasts for 30 months or until they are aged 17 and a half, whichever is the shorter period.

Upon reaching that age, children should make preparations to return to their country of origin for when they turn 18 or apply to stay longer in the UK.

Former unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who have turned 18 and have no legal basis to remain in the UK should leave voluntarily or their removal will be enforced.