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Asylum Claims Surge as Backlog Grows in the UK

Recent analysis of government data reveals that nearly 42,000 asylum seekers are currently in limbo, awaiting appeal hearings following the rejection of their initial claims. This figure, highlighted by the Refugee Council, marks a staggering five-fold increase over the past two years, raising concerns that the government’s efforts may merely be shifting the asylum crisis rather than resolving it. An estimated 40,000 migrants are still being accommodated in hotels, reflecting the ongoing challenges in the asylum system.

In response to the escalating situation, the Home Office has reported that it has doubled the number of asylum seekers receiving initial decisions on their claims and announced funding for additional court sitting days to expedite the process.

A spokesperson for the Home Office emphasized the government’s commitment to phasing out the use of asylum hotels and mitigating the “unacceptably high” costs associated with this accommodation strategy.

The Refugee Council contends that the increase in claim rejections can be attributed to legislative changes instituted by the previous Conservative administration, which has made it more difficult for applicants to establish their status as genuine refugees. Following the implementation of the Nationality and Borders Act, only 40% of Afghan asylum seekers were granted permission to remain in the UK during the latter half of the previous year, a sharp decline from prior patterns where nearly all Afghan applicants were approved for asylum.

It is anticipated that many of those whose claims were rejected are likely to file appeals. Currently, Afghans represent the largest nationality among those residing in hotels and among those arriving by small boats over the past two years.

Enver Solomon, the chief executive of the Refugee Council, has called for improvements in the decision-making process to ensure fair outcomes. He stated, “Right first-time decision making will ensure refugees are given safety to go on to contribute to communities across the country and those who don’t have a right to stay in the UK are removed with dignity and respect.”

The charity underscores that individuals caught in the appeals backlog still require housing, warning that if no progress is made, the financial burden of hotel accommodations could reach £1.5 billion this year.

A government spokesperson addressed the state of the asylum system, asserting, “The asylum system we inherited was not fit for purpose, which is why we are taking urgent action to restart asylum processing and clear the backlog of cases, which will save the taxpayer an estimated £4 billion over the next two years.”

The spokesperson further elucidated that funding has been allocated for “thousands more sitting days in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber to streamline asylum claims and improve productivity.”

According to statistics published by the Ministry of Justice, the backlog of asylum appeals in courts reached 41,987 by the end of 2024, a significant increase from just 7,173 at the beginning of 2023. The Refugee Council’s analysis indicates that the total number of asylum application appeals submitted last year saw a remarkable 71% rise compared to the previous year.

Source
www.bbc.com