News story: Unaccompanied minors arrive in UK ahead of Calais camp clearance |
The first group of unaccompanied children have arrived in the UK from Calais today (17 October), following the Home Secretary’s pledge to transfer as many minors as possible before the camp is cleared. The group, aged 14 to 17, were transported across the Channel this morning. They will be screened and processed by the Home Office, before being reunited with their families in the coming days. More children are due to arrive from France over the next few days and weeks under the Dublin regulation mechanism. Separately, Home Office officials are working with French authorities, NGOs and ... charities to identify children who are eligible under the ‘Dubs amendment’ of the Immigration Act. A Home Office spokesperson said:
The Home Office has worked with the French government and partner organisations including the UNHCR, to significantly improve and speed up the Dublin asylum process. In total, over 140 unaccompanied children have been accepted for transfer under Dublin family reunification so far this year (up to 1 October), with over 80 from France. |