Down and Out in London: The road to destitution for rejected asylum seekers

In a new report, Amnesty International has criticised the UK government's policy on rejected asylum seekers, which is forcing thousands into abject poverty. Amnesty believes that rejected asylum seekers are made destitute to force them to go home.

• Background
• Read reports
• Read the press release
• Take action
• Case studies

Background

Many rejected asylum seekers are living from hand to mouth with all avenues to a normal life blocked.  Most live in abject poverty, stripped of their dignity, relying on others to subsist, sometimes going hungry and sleeping in the streets.  Many appear to have given up hope of ever being able to live a normal life and some have lost the will to liveAmnesty International believes that rejected asylum seekers should not be left in this limbo situation for an indefinite period. Many cannot be returned for reasons beyond their control and should not be penalised for this.

The majority of those who seek asylum in the UK are refused.  Each year around two-thirds of asylum applications are ultimately refused, including any appeal.  Financial support and accommodation is cut off after 21 days and at this point they are expected to leave the country voluntarily or be subject to removal action.  However, for a number of reasons many do not leave.

In 2005 according to Home Office statistics, 15,685 asylum seekers and their dependants were removed from the UK. There is a huge disparity between the number of people refused asylum in the UK and the number who are either removed by the Immigration Service or who make a voluntary departure.  There is a backlog of hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers whose claims have been refused. Earlier this year a committee of MPs concluded it would take between 10 and 18 years to tackle the backlog at the current rate of removal.

In 2004 the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee noted 'where the removal of a failed asylum seeker is delayed through no fault of their own, it is morally unacceptable for him to be rendered destitute'.

Reports

Take action

Please take action by sending a letter to your MP expressing your concern that rejected asylum seekers are being made destitute to force them to leave the UK. Take action now

Case studies

Amnesty International has interviewed a number of rejected asylum seekers and their experiences were often very similar. Many suffered from depression and other mental health problems, due to their insecure position. Many feared being taken into detention and returned to their country of origin. Find out more