Myth Busters – Asylum Seekers

Talking about the asylum process can be tough. Entrenched political policy and the divisive nature of culture wars can mean the truth is often twisted or lost entirely.  Breaking down asylum myths through open conversation is key to help all our communities grow.

Talking about it is tough, but it is also vital. If we are to build a fairer, kinder asylum system.

These common questions can lead to courageous conversations which in turn can help to break down asylum myths.

What is the difference between an asylum seeker and a refugee?

An Asylum Seeker is a person who has applied for asylum in another country to escape famine, persecution, or other tragic events.

A Refugee is an asylum seeker whose application has been successful. Refugee status means people are granted ‘Leave to remain’ in the UK for 5 years, and at the end of that period they can apply for Indefinite ‘Leave to Remain’

Why don’t people seek asylum in the first safe country?

They do. According to the UNHCR, around 70% of displaced people stay in a country neighbouring the one they have fled. And 76% stay in countries that are poorer than the United Kingdom. A minority of people travel further, and that is usually because they have family in a specific country, or they speak the language, or because they have colonial links or ties.

Why are people ‘illegally’ crossing the channel?

People are forced into crossing borders irregularly because they are unable to access visas. Without a visa, no aircraft, international train, or ferry can allow you to board. If any travel operator permits someone without a visa to travel, they will have a Carrier Fine imposed.

The UK imposes visa restrictions on countries where there is any instability or risk that someone may need to travel to the UK to claim asylum. So, people who need asylum are locked out of visas forcing them to take dangerous crossings to reach safety, family, and the chance to rebuild.

Are most people coming here economic migrants?

No. Firstly, people travelling to the UK to claim asylum are not allowed to work or claim benefits. They are only entitled to asylum support which, if you are housed within the community, is £49.18 a week – this must cover all food, transport, hygiene items, phone data and clothing. If you are housed in a hotel, barracks or the barge, food is provided, and asylum support is just £8.86 a week. This is a tiny amount of money and certainly not enough to justify the label of ‘economic migrant.’

If you do not claim asylum, you are not eligible to claim asylum support or any form of financial support from the state – this is known as No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).

Secondly, most people claiming asylum go on to be recognised as a refugee by the government. Many initial refusals will go on to be awarded refugee status on appeal.

People are housed in hotels, are they not just coming for these benefits?

Whilst people wait for a decision on their asylum claim, they are not eligible for benefits, and they are not allowed to work. As people are prevented from supporting themselves, the state has a duty to accommodate them. Because the government has taken so long to process these asylum claims, the accommodation in the asylum system has become overwhelmed, so they have started to use hotels, barracks, and the barge.

The hotels used are procured by the private sector and are deregulated when used as asylum accommodation – this means that if the hotel was a 3 or 4-star hotel, this no longer applies to asylum seekers. The company will often strip the rooms of items such as TVs and put bunk beds in so they can put as many people as possible. They are cramped environments that people already traumatised by war or torture often find extremely difficult to survive.

There is enough accommodation without the need for hotels or barracks, if the government makes decisions within the six months it says it will. The current arrangements to accommodate asylum seekers are hugely expensive and damaging to the people placed in those environments.

Asylum seekers are a drain on our public resources, why don’t we use resources for homeless people?

Asylum seekers want to work, but most people in the asylum system are banned from working while their claim is assessed. This often takes years and significantly damages people’s health, mental health, and employment prospects by de-skilling them and forcing them into years of worklessness and poverty. During that time, they have very little access to English Language Learning Support which also impacts their ability to progress positively into employment following the asylum process.

The Lift the Ban campaign has been calling on the law to change, allowing people in the asylum system to work. They estimate that the treasury would earn £333 million per year through doing this. It would also significantly improve the long-term employment outcomes for refugees following the asylum process.

Aren’t Asylum seekers taking jobs away from local people?

Most asylum seekers are banned from working until their claim has been assessed. This needs to change. The UK has significant workforce gaps where employers struggle to fill vacancies, with between 12% and 17% of businesses reporting workforce shortages. Allowing people seeking asylum to work would fill vital jobs, and the treasury would earn approx. £333 million per year, and people would be able to fully support themselves rather than being housed in substandard asylum accommodation and forced to survive on minimal asylum support.

Why are all refugees, young men?

It is incorrect to say that women and children do not claim asylum. In 2023, 23,457 women claimed asylum in the UK. The main reason that there are more men claiming asylum than women and children is because of how difficult and dangerous the journey is. Many families will send a male to make the dangerous journey anticipating that they will be able to apply to have their family join them when they finally achieve status. Sadly, this process often takes years leaving families separated for prolonged periods.

Does the UK take more refugees than other European countries?

No, the UK takes far fewer refugees and asylum seekers than most comparable countries. In 2022, the UK 18,600 asylum applications, comparatively Germany received 243,800, France 156,500 and Sweden 117,900.

Is Britain a soft touch? Isn’t it easy to get asylum in the UK?

Britain is one of the only countries that ban people seeking asylum from working, places them in dangerous barges and barracks, and allows for Indefinite Immigration Detention, including the indefinite detention of children. We are geographically the hardest country to get to and have one of the hardest visas to access. We have one of the longest processing times in Europe despite having lower numbers than comparable countries. Nothing about claiming asylum in the UK is ‘soft.’

Do asylum seekers go to the top of the council housing list?

People in the asylum system are not eligible for social housing. Once someone’s asylum claim has been heard and they are given refugee status, they become eligible for social housing, but they do not get any priority. Social housing is allocated based on priority needs which may be based on child dependents, disabilities, or healthcare needs. Refugee status does not qualify as a ‘priority need.’

Hopefully the answers to these frequently asked questions have helped you feel more confident to have conversations that could lead to breaking down asylum myths.