HOME Secretary Shabana Mahmood was accused of endangering the lives of modern slavery victims after dismissing late asylum claims as “vexatious” today.

The criticism by Britain’s independent anti-slavery watchdog came as the first deportation under the “one in, one out” returns deal with France was branded “cruelty disguised as policy” by Medicins Sans Frontiers (MSF).

The deportation of an Eritrean man under the Britain-France migrant returns deal was temporarily blocked following a legal challenge on Tuesday.

Describing the move as a “last-minute attempt” to avoid deportation, Ms Mahmood said: “Migrants suddenly deciding that they are a modern slave on the eve of their removal, having never made such a claim before, make a mockery of our laws and this country’s generosity.”

Anti-slavery commissioner Eleanor Lyons hit back, saying that there is “no substantive evidence” that migrants use anti-slavery laws to avoid deportation.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think we have to understand that the Home Secretary’s words have a real life impact on victims of exploitation, who now may be more scared to come forward and talk about what’s happened.

“I think it’s also worth noting that both the House of Commons and the House of Lords select committees have looked at this issue in recent years, and they found there’s no misuse of the system.

“It puts vulnerable lives at risk when the Home Secretary is claiming that is the case.”

Torture survivor Kolbassia Haoussou, of Freedom from Torture, added: “I stayed silent at first because I didn’t feel safe. Only with proper legal advice could I finally share the truth. 

“If the government cares about justice, it must build an asylum system based on safety, compassion and access to legal support, not suspicion and stigma.”

Ms Mahmood said the first returns under the scheme this morning shows people crossing the English Channel that “if you enter the UK illegally, we will seek to remove you.”

MSF’s Jacob Burns said: “Despite repeated, cynical assurances from politicians and successive governments, deterrence policies will not stop people from attempting to seek safety in the UK.

“Instead, they force men, women and children to take even more dangerous and desperate journeys with devastating, sometimes fatal consequences.”