Asylum Crisis in the UK: Over 42,000 Await Appeals Amid Rising Rejections

A new analysis of official figures reveals that nearly 42,000 asylum seekers in the UK are currently waiting for appeal hearings after their initial claims were rejected by the Home Office. This represents a staggering five-fold increase over the last two years. The Refugee Council cautions that this backlog highlights a significant asylum crisis, particularly as nearly 40,000 migrants remain housed in temporary hotel accommodations.

The Home Office has responded to these concerns by stating that they have increased the number of initial decisions made on asylum claims and allocated additional funding for court days to expedite the process. A government spokesperson emphasized the commitment to eventually eliminate the use of hotels for asylum seekers and reduce the substantial costs associated with their accommodation, which could potentially reach £1.5 billion this year.

However, the Refugee Council attributes the increase in rejections partly to stricter legislation imposed by the previous Conservative government, specifically the Nationality and Borders Act, which has made it more challenging for applicants to prove their refugee status. This is evidenced by the alarming statistic that only 40% of Afghan asylum seekers were granted permission to stay in the latter half of last year, a steep decline from nearly universal approval rates in prior years.

Enver Solomon, the chief executive of the Refugee Council, has called for reforms that will promote fair and accurate decisions from the outset, arguing that the current backlog and uncertainty detrimentally affect the lives of asylum seekers. He stressed the importance of a system that treats those entitled to stay with respect while efficiently removing those with no right to remain.

The government’s efforts aim to streamline the processing of asylum applications and tackle the backlog, which has now surged to nearly 42,000 cases, significantly up from just over 7,000 at the beginning of 2023. The Refugee Council’s analysis indicates that the number of appeals lodged last year increased by 71% compared to 2023, a situation that continues to exacerbate the challenges faced by the UK’s asylum system.