Migrants claiming to be asylum seekers have tried to pop home for holidays

MIGRANTS claiming to be asylum seekers have tried to pop home for holidays.

The boss of Border Force revealed bogus claimants had been rumbled by attempting to leave the UK to return for breaks in their own country.

Thousands of economic migrants try to claim asylum in the UK saying they would be persecuted if they are booted out of Britain.

Their claims are often taken to court after being rejected by the Home Office.

Stunned border officials say exit checks on some travellers mean they let slip their dud claims by trying to go home.

Border Force director general Phil Douglas told London’s LBC radio: “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 said yesterday that while Britain is a tolerant country that will give shelter to the genuinely needy, too many arrivals try to play the system.

He hit out: “There are a lot of people who are fundamentally economic migrants.

“They are coming here because they want better jobs, perhaps, and what we’re saying is you, if you’re coming here illegally, you will not have the right to stay here, you will be sent home.”