Asylum seekers launch legal challenge to new asylum legislation

Six asylum seekers this week launched a legal challenge to the
Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act because it bans people who
make late asylum claims from receiving government support.

The test case follows the introduction of the act on 8 January
this year. Under section 55 of the act only asylum seekers making
applications at ports as soon as “reasonably practicable” are
eligible for support and accommodation from the National Asylum
Support Service.

Kier Stramer QC, representing five of the six asylum seekers,
told the high court that immigration authorities were interpreting
the new rules too strictly and in a way that breached the European
Convention on Human Rights.