Asylum children 'at risk'
THE Home Office last night defended controversial plans to take the children of failed asylum seekers into care.
Under plans to be announced in the Queen's Speech, parents whose asylum claims have been rejected would be told to take a "voluntary" flight home or lose their benefits.
They could then have their children taken from them as they would not be able to afford to support them.
The move has been condemned by refugee groups. But the Home Office yesterday insisted it was the logical way forward.
It insisted it was designed to protect children.
It said it faced a choice between letting anyone stay in the country, putting asylum seekers in removal centres or organising the removal of unsuccessful applicants, including providing support to the children who would otherwise be left destitute.
Refugee Action said the plan was an "inhumane and shameful" way of coercing parents to return home.