Britain Plans Overhaul of Asylum Appeals Process
In a bold move, Britain’s government is set to revamp the asylum appeals process in a bid to reduce the number of migrants housed in hotels during the waiting period for rulings.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the creation of a new body staffed by independent adjudicators to address the “unacceptable delays” in the system, with a promise of quicker action than traditional courts.
This decision comes amidst mounting political and public pressure on the government’s use of asylum hotels, where 32,000 asylum seekers are currently residing.
Protests erupted nationwide, with demonstrations in cities like Bristol, Liverpool, London, Mold, Perth, and County Antrim leading to 12 arrests, highlighting the growing discontent.
While initial asylum claim decisions have been expedited, appeals now take over a year on average to resolve, with a staggering 51,000 cases pending, according to Cooper.
Refugee Council advocates for getting decisions right the first time to reduce appeals, emphasizing the critical need for judicial oversight in asylum cases that can be a matter of life and death.
The asylum hotel controversy has escalated, with protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping prompting legal action to prevent further housing of asylum seekers following a criminal incident involving a resident.
Efforts to appeal the injunction have been met with resistance from various councils, including Tory-controlled Hillingdon, indicating a growing challenge for the government.
Conservative and Reform UK leaders have voiced support for resisting asylum hotels, with plans in motion to address the issue and find alternative solutions.
Recent data from the Home Office reveals that a significant number of local authorities host asylum seekers in contingency accommodation, predominantly in hotels, with plans to phase out this practice in the near future.
Further details on expediting asylum appeals are expected in the upcoming months, as the government remains committed to ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers within the current parliamentary term. — BBC
