UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – UK’s return of asylum seekers to Bulgaria sparks legal row, with claims of abuse, torture, and rights violations under Labour’s migration policy.
As reported by The Guardian, Britain’s migration policy is under legal fire as lawyers move to block deportations to Bulgaria over reports of harsh and abusive treatment of asylum seekers.
Government data shows over 24,000 people have been deported or repatriated from the UK since Labour’s 2024 victory, including 200 to Bulgaria. Under specific arrangements, the UK can return asylum seekers to countries like Bulgaria, provided there is a verified record of entry.
How are lawyers challenging deportations to Bulgaria?
Legal experts are challenging the deportation of individuals from the UK and EU to Bulgaria.
They cite concerns that returnees may experience treatment that breaches Article 3 of the European Convention, which prohibits torture and degrading treatment.
What did No Name Kitchen reveal about forced returns to Bulgaria?
According to No Name Kitchen, a humanitarian group supporting refugees in the Balkans, it has gathered statements from 21 people, including 17 Syrians, who were deported to Bulgaria from other European countries.
The organisation reported that more than two-thirds of those deported were pressured into signing “voluntary return” agreements.
What did George Sheldon Grun say about Syrian deportations to Bulgaria?
According to George Sheldon Grun, a public law expert at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, the firm is representing several Syrians in British courts who are contesting their deportation to Bulgaria.
He said,
“Reports from organisations on the ground indicate that Syrian refugees in Bulgaria frequently face conditions that amount to degrading and inhumane treatment. The UK government considers Bulgaria a safe country for return, but the reality for those removed suggests otherwise.”
The lawyer added,
“These cases raise serious questions about the adequacy of protection and whether removal to Bulgaria is consistent with the UK’s legal obligations.”
What did Ana Carolina Fisher da Cunha say about Bulgaria’s failing asylum system?
Ana Carolina Fisher da Cunha, a human rights lawyer and co-author of the NNK report. She expressed concerns over the treatment of individuals deported to Bulgaria from other European nations.
She stated,
“Bulgaria’s asylum system is failing, and it does not uphold the human rights standards it is legally bound to as an EU member state. European countries can no longer justify returns to Bulgaria under the pretence that it is a safe destination,”
The lawyer said,
“The reality is that people sent back to Bulgaria face serious risks of torture and other inhumane and degrading treatment, not just upon return to their countries of origin but within Europe’s own borders. Returns to Bulgaria must end.”
Home Office views on deporting refugees
A Home Office spokesperson stated,
“As the public rightly expects, anyone unlawfully in the UK with refugee status in another country will be removed and returned back to that country if deemed safe to do so.”
European Council views on refugee accommodation conditions
The European Council on Refugees and Exiles, in its March 2025 update, raised concerns over accommodation conditions. These conditions failed to meet ‘basic standards.’
The report highlighted issues such as vermin infestations and a lack of basic services, including sufficient food, hot water, and functional sanitation.
Guardian report on the deaths of Egyptian teenagers
The Guardian reported in January that Bulgarian authorities ignored emergency calls and hindered rescue efforts for three Egyptian teenage boys who later died in freezing temperatures near the Bulgaria-Turkey border in late December.
The Bulgarian interior ministry confirmed that its border forces responded quickly to reports of young people in distress. However, it added that the bodies were discovered in locations different from those initially reported.
Total migrants in the UK
- Foreign-born population (2022): ~9.9 million (about 14.8% of the total UK population).
- Net migration (2023 provisional estimate): ~685,000 (a record high, though this includes temporary migrants like students and workers).
- Largest migrant groups: India, Poland, Pakistan, Romania, and Ireland