Underage asylum seekers have disappeared also in Finland

Recently, there have been reports of disappearances of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers in Europe. According to a review carried out by the Finnish Immigration Service, a total of 30 unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors have disappeared in Finland since 2014.

Between 1 January 2014 and 31 March 2016, the Finnish Immigration Service issued 70 decisions on the expiry of an asylum application to unaccompanied minors due to the disappearance of the applicant. In 22 cases, there were strong indications of the person in question being an adult. In 18 cases, the person returned to their home country. This means that 30 unaccompanied minors have disappeared. Since disappearing, some of them have applied for asylum in another EU country and one has returned to Finland. Most of them are boys aged 14 to 17.

False assumptions about the asylum process often a reason for disappearance

The Finnish Immigration Service has reviewed the factors involved in the disappearance of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers in cooperation with, among others, reception centre employees and representatives of the minors, who usually are the ones in closest contact with the asylum seekers in question.

According to the review, a central motive for disappearing is the fear of a Dublin decision and the following refusal of entry and being sent back to another EU country or fear of a negative asylum decision.

Disappearing does not, however, facilitate the situation of the minor, as the information about the first country where the minor has applied for asylum is stored in the Eurodac database. Even in cases where unaccompanied minors do not have grounds for international protection and a decision on refusal of entry is made, the agency must find out whether or not somebody is waiting for the minors when they return to their home country.

The minor may also be dissatisfied with the conditions in Finland or want to join acquaintances or relatives living in another EU country. In some cases, the minor has previously resided in another EU country and wishes to return. Among these countries are, for example, Sweden and Germany.

Finnish Immigration Service combats abuse and human trafficking

The Finnish Immigration Service has looked into the issue as there is a concern that the disappearance of unaccompanied minors is linked to criminal activity, such as abuse or even human trafficking.

Usually, it seems like the young person makes the decision to leave himself or herself. However, in some cases there are indications of the involvement of another person in the disappearance of a minor. Minors who have disappeared are susceptible to abuse. The Finnish Immigration Service cooperates with other authorities to find potential cases of criminal activity.

Further information for the media

Anni Valovirta, Senior Adviser and Specialist for Human Trafficking Issues, Asylum Unit, tel. +358 0295 430 431, firstname.lastname@migri.fi

Juha Kannelmaa, Senior Adviser and Specialist for Issues concerning Minors, Asylum Unit, tel. +358 0295 430 431, firstname.lastname@migri.fi