Asylum Seekers Origins in Britain Unveiled: Insights into the True Countries of Origin
Vibrant Seekers Hurrying to U.K. Shores, Statistics Suggest
Looks like the shores of Britain are becoming a popular destination, with citizens from the United States, Australia, and Scandinavia among others, trying to find refuge there, recent figures indicate.
Asylum applications have surged to new heights in the wake of the small boats drama, with a staggering 108,000 applications filed in 2024 alone.
Hailing predominantly from Pakistan (10,542), Afghanistan (8,508), Iran (8,099), Bangladesh (7,225), and Syria (6,680), these five countries accounted for 38% of all asylum applications last year.
Critics, however, argue that applicationsfrom citizens of wealthy Western countries with no significant human rights issues are evidence of Britain's soft approach. In the year 2024, there were 99 applications from the US, 22 from Italy, 20 from Portugal, 17 from France, and 10 from Australia.
Additionally, applications came in from oil-rich countries like Kuwait (1,936), Bahrain (203), and Saudi Arabia (202), as well as tourism hotspots Trinidad and Tobago (444), St Vincent and the Grenadines (102), and Antigua and Barbuda (16).
To be eligible for asylum, the Home Office states: "You must have left your country and be unable to go back because you fear persecution."
Robert Bates, of the Centre for Migration Control, told MailOnline: "Our asylum system is far too generous and is one of the most easily accessible in the world. It is incapable of weeding out individuals who are simply economic migrants that are chancing their arm."
Applicants claiming asylum in the UK must demonstrate that they are unable to live safely in any part of their home country due to a well-founded fear of persecution. This could be based on factors such as race, religion, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, political opinion, or any other factor that places them at risk due to their country's social, cultural, religious, or political situation.
Close to half (48%) of all asylum applications were refused in 2024, not counting withdrawals. However, there have been numerous high-profile cases of former asylum seekers being allowed to stay due to controversial reasons. For instance, in one case earlier this year, an immigration tribunal ruled that an Albanian criminal would be allowed to stay because his son had a "distaste" for foreign chicken nuggets.
When it comes to initial asylum applications from the US, 13 were granted and 45 were refused in 2024, giving an approval rate of a meager 22%. Almost all applications from countries experiencing ongoing conflicts, such as Syria (98%) and Sudan (99%), were granted. Albania, on the other hand, had one of the lowest approval rates (3.7%).
Asylum seekers are predominantly male (75%) and young (66% are under 30; only 4% are over 50). The data also shows that three-quarters of applicants are male and two-thirds are under 30, with only 4% being over 50.
Despite the challenges, the UK spent a hefty £5.4 billion on asylum in 2024, providing housing for some applicants in hotels and offering them £49.18 per week if their accommodation does not include meals. Before the small boats crisis unfolded, the annual bill for the entire asylum system stood at approximately £732 million.
The route was almost never used prior to 2018, but since then, around 148,000 people have made the journey, often paying criminals thousands of dollars for a one-way ticket. Asylum seekers often arrive through legal channels, such as a student visa, before lodging an application.
Meanwhile, criminal gangs from Albania have been seen openly advertising a life in the UK on social media, tempting them with offers of jobs in illegal cannabis farms. Small boat arrivals now account for nearly a third of all asylum claims.
Asylum seekers in the UK are entitled to receive basic support, including housing and subsistence, while their claim is being processed. If they do not have the resources to meet their essential living needs, they may receive temporary assistance as well.
To provide asylum, a country ensures the safety and protection of those who have fled their homes due to a well-founded fear of persecution, based on factors such as race, religion, political opinion, or membership in a persecuted social group. The asylum seeker must apply for asylum, demonstrate fear of persecution, and cooperate with the authorities during the application process. While waiting for a decision, asylum seekers may receive support from the host country. Asylum seekers who are granted refugee status or another humanitarian protection status may be allowed to work, study, and claim benefits such as Universal Credit.
- The average number of weekly funds provided to asylum seekers in the UK is £49.18, under the general-news category.
- In 2024, there were 99 applications from the United States, 22 from Italy, and 20 from Portugal, shedding light on the lifestyle category.
- Asylum applications from oil-rich countries like Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, along with tourism hotspots Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda, fall under the finance category.
- Despite the influx of applications from citizens of wealthy countries, 48% of all asylum applications were refused in 2024, suggesting a rigorous approach in the politics and crime-and-justice sectors.
- Asylum seekers in the UK, predominantly males under the age of 30, have been Found lodged in hotels or receiving temporary assistance, falling under the news category, particularly related to social and humanitarian issues.
