Border Agency immigration backlog 'as big as Iceland'

The number of outstanding immigration and asylum cases rose by 25,000 in three months, making a total caseload equivalent to the population of Iceland, the home affairs select committee found.

More than 300,000 cases needed to be dealt with at the end of June, the committee said.

Most of the increase came from a rise of more than 24,000 missing migrants who were refused permission to remain but whose whereabouts are unknown.

The outstanding workload also included 95,000 cases being kept in controlled archives which the UKBA has pledged to close by the end of the year.

The committee expressed concern the closure of the archive could mean significant numbers of people were given "effective amnesty."

A UK Border Agency spokeswoman said there was "absolutely no question of an amnesty."

Committee MPs also highlighted the fact that so far this year 13 people have been granted asylum after previously being rejected and removed.

"Poor decision making may result in people being returned home when they face persecution and torture," it said.

"The committee is particularly worried about the plight of Tamils being returned to Sri Lanka and calls on the agency to push for a re-evaluation of the risks posed to Tamil asylum-seekers on return."

Refugee Council advocacy manager Lisa Doyle said it was shocking that 13 people were wrongly removed.

"These are life and death decisions and when the UKBA get it wrong, they risk returning people to persecution and torture."