UK politician: Syrian child refugees in UK ‘to be deported at age 18'
by Daily Sabah
ISTANBULSep 09, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Daily Sabah
Sep 09, 2015 12:00 am
Syrian refugee children, who are allowed into the U.K. under Prime Minister David Cameron's new scheme, could be deported when they turn 18, the former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown wrote on Twitter yesterday, citing sources in Parliament.
"Minister in the Lords just confirmed refugee orphans and children brought in under Cameron's scheme will be deported at age 18," he wrote. His tweet created a storm on social media and was retweeted thousands of times in an hour. Some commented on it, saying "aside from the ethics, it makes no economic sense to send 18-year-olds educated by the state back to Syria." Another said deporting them is "inhumane."
Earlier on Monday, Cameron announced Britain will resettle up to 20,000 refugees who have fled war and violence in Syria and other war-torn countries over the next five years. He also added that the "heartbreaking images" of refugees stuck in the crisis had prompted the government to act, RT news reported.
According to the Independent, Cameron's new resettlement scheme would ensure that vulnerable children are given priority, however, it later turned out all those accepted under the scheme will only be able to stay in the U.K. for five years and may face deportation after having established a new life in the country.
Thousands of Britons have come forward in online petitions to offer their homes to host refugees and to help in their resettlement, although local councils have warned about the costs of hosting them.
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