More than 50,000 illegal migrants and foreign criminals have gone missing in the UK after absconding, it emerged today.

Internal Home Office figures reveal that the migrants – including 1,200 foreign national offenders – were recorded as absconders on Government systems.

The data from December 2024, obtained by the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration, show there were more 'missing' illegal migrants than asylum seekers currently awaiting an initial decision by the Home Office.

The tally includes people refused asylum who have then absconded to avoid being sent back to their home countries, as well as foreign criminals who have evaded deportation and Channel migrants seeking asylum who have disappeared after being placed on immigration bail, the Telegraph reported.

Migrants in the immigration system are required to maintain regular contact with the Home Office through bail reporting conditions.

If they don't, they can be classed as absconders which can spark enforcement action such as arrest and detention.

Labour blamed the Conservatives' 'chaotic' management of the asylum system for the missing migrants.

'Management of contact with those with no right to be in the UK was chaotic and data was unreliable,' a Home Office source said.

'Under the previous government, removals failed to keep pace with arrivals and the Conservatives stopped asylum decision-making as they pursued their failed Rwanda plan. As a result, the asylum backlog ballooned to 175,000.'