In an effort to reduce costs and end the hotel scheme that has put pressure on local communities and public services, the UK government is planning to move migrants seeking asylum from hotels to barges, military bases, and ships. The surge in the number of asylum seekers, particularly through “small boat arrivals” crossing the English Channel, has overwhelmed the UK’s asylum system. As a result, the government’s new policy is to provide migrants with accommodation that meets their essential living needs only.
Accommodation barge refitted for housing migrants
An accommodation barge is being refitted for this transition and it can house hundreds of migrants. The government is also considering transporting “illegal migrants” to “vessels,” such as former cruise ships. Furthermore, two military bases in Lincolnshire and Essex are being reviewed for accommodating the migrants.
Ex-RAF sites as potential destinations for asylum seekers
Sites in Lincolnshire, Essex and East Sussex are being considered as potential destinations for “several thousand” asylum seekers. However, local communities and MPs have expressed concern over the plans, and a legal challenge for the Government is in progress. Alan MacKenzie from The Fields Association, a residents’ group opposing plans to use the abandoned Wethersfield RAF base, warned of potential chaotic scenarios in the countryside.
Disused military bases to house asylum seekers
The government plans to move asylum seekers into disused military bases with minimum living conditions allowed under international law. Rebel Conservative backbenchers are pressuring the government to stop small boat crossings by the end of the year, a timetable rejected by Downing Street that could potentially lead to an internal split.
Immigration minister Robert Jenrick announced the plan to stop housing asylum seekers in hotels while their claims are processed. The asylum seeker camps would meet international legal requirements to ensure those who arrived were not made destitute.
Concerns and criticisms by human rights groups
Human rights groups have criticized the government’s proposals, and some Conservative party ministers have threatened legal action if their areas are used to house migrants. The UN Refugee Agency has argued that “there is no such thing as… an illegal asylumseeker.” Campaign groups and the Refugee Council condemned the plans as unworkable and “not who we are as a country.”
Conclusion
The UK government’s plans to move migrants seeking asylum from hotels to barges, military bases, and ships have stirred significant controversy, with concerns raised about the inhospitable nature of the accommodation arrangements and their potential impact on local communities. The government, however, remains committed to its “legal obligations” and ensuring that accommodation for migrants meets their essential living needs only. It remains to be seen whether this latest policy will bring relief to an already overwhelmed asylum system.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
