Migrants applying for asylum in the UK are trying to go back home for Christmas, the UK’s Border Force chief has told LBC.
Phil Douglas said his officers had been left shocked when carrying out exit checks on people leaving the UK.
LBC got an exclusive look behind the scenes at how Border Force operates at Luton airport – one of the busiest for Eastern European airlines in the run up to Christmas.
He said: “We do find a lot of people who have claimed asylum in this country, and are heading back to their own country for holidays, which obviously isn’t allowed.”
Home Secretary James Cleverly told LBC that some of those coming to the UK are economic migrants who are seeking a better life.
He said: “We have always been a very generous country, to the people who are genuinely seeking protection from persecution, from war from violence.