News

The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 is undoubtedly making life more difficult for asylum seekers, according to Alison Fenney, head of policy at the Refugee Council.

"This is the fourth piece of asylum legislation in a decade," said Fenney. "The most depressing thing is each subsequent piece of legislation makes life worse for asylum seekers."

She said legislation was increasingly about deterring asylum seekers from arriving in the country. In January, section 55 of the act was introduced whereby any asylum seeker who fails to apply for asylum "as soon as reasonably practicable" was not eligible for support.


Test cases ensued which placed a duty on the Home Office to ensure that people who apply for asylum are not left without food and shelter. Despite this, Fenney warned the act increased destitution, created a potential increase in referrals to social services departments, age disputes and refugee community organisations being overstretched.


The system had too much focus on failed asylum seekers, she added, highlighting how difficult it was for asylum seekers to integrate once they had gained refugee status after being treated so poorly during the asylum process.

"Until the government grasps this, the implications for integration and community cohesion are huge," she said.