Is it legal for asylum seekers to cross the Channel?
Asylum seekers who are intercepted while crossing the English Channel in small boats have not broken the law, the Court of Appeal has found. Judges quashed the convictions of three men who were wrongly jailed for “assisting unlawful immigration” for steering dinghies, after finding they had not committed the offence.
Why do asylum seekers cross the Channel?
People choose to make the Channel crossing for a myriad of reasons, whether it’s the fact that they already speak English or to join family members who are already living there. More than 21,000 people have made the crossing to the UK so far this year, more than double the total for the whole of 2020.
How many asylum seekers have crossed the Channel this year?
Channel crossings Data published by the BBC, reportedly from the Home Office, shows the number of people who have crossed the Channel so far this year exceeds 25,000, compared to less than 10,000 in 2020.
How many asylum seekers cross the Channel?
Official figures show that only 300 asylum seekers crossed the Channel by small boat in 2018, but the figure rose to 1,800 in 2019, then jumped to 8,460 in 2020. Calculations by PA Media put the number for last year at 28,395, but the Home Office refused to provide a total.
Do asylum seekers get free housing?
But do they get this free housing forever? No. When someone gets refugee status, they can no longer stay in asylum accommodation. They can choose where to live, but they have to pay for their rent or ask for government help – like any UK citizen.
Which hotels are being lined up for asylum seekers?
The Express & Star has been told a hotel in Walsall had also been lined up for asylum seekers but was rejected by the Home Office, while a hotel in Birmingham is currently under consideration for more than 300 migrants. Other Britannia hotels have been put forward for asylum seekers.
Why are asylum seekers washing clothes outside Hotel in London?
Many of the asylum seekers are said to have arrived in the city with just the clothes on their backs, and outside the hotel young men congregate as washing hangs out of windows. It comes as pressure mounts on the Home Office to find accommodation to deal with the high number of migrants crossing the English Channel.
Are asylum seekers being ‘dumped’ in a Wolverhampton hotel?
Asylum seekers have been “dumped” in a Wolverhampton hotel against the wishes of the council. Subscribe to our daily newsletter! Around 200 asylum seekers are currently being housed in the Britannia Hotel in Wolverhampton city centre as part of the Home Office’s dispersal programme.
Do asylum seekers get free accommodation in UK?
A Home Office spokesman said: “Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute are provided with free, fully furnished accommodation and served three meals a day as well as all other essentials while applications are considered.