Asylum and Immigration Facts vs. Myths

(Updated with UK figures for 2000)

Myth #1: "Britain receives more than its share of refugees"

In fact ... Indeed in 2000, the United Kingdom received the largest number of asylum applications (97,900 or 22% of the total number of applications lodged in Europe), followed by Germany (78,800 or 17%) and the Netherlands (43,900 or 10%) However, when compared to the size of the total national population, Slovenia received the largest number of asylum-seekers in Europe during 2000 (4.7 refugees per 1,000 inhabitants), followed by Belgium (4.2), Ireland (2.9) and Netherlands (2.8). Britain fell from 9th place in 1999 to 10th with 1.6 asylum seekers per 1,000 inhabitants. Provisional data provided by Governments to UNHCR indicate that asylum applications in 25 European countries in 2000, decreased by 4% compared to 1999. On a more global note, according to World Refugee Survey 2000, in 1999 nearly 27 million people in 24 countries were forced to flee wars, repression and other forms of persecution, making the world refugee population total rise for the first time in 7 years. At the beginning of the Millennium, 35 million people were uprooted.

Myth #2: "Majority of asylum claims in the UK are bogus"

In fact ... More than half (55%) of decisions (including appeals) in 2000 resulted in protection being granted. Most asylum seekers are refused not because their cases are bogus, but because they travelled through other countries on their way to Britain or because of lack of information and good legal advice. In addition to that, in 2000, on average 24% of asylum seekers were refused because they did not fill in or submit their complex statement of evidence form (SEF) within 10 working days of their arrival. The 20 page long form must be completed in English and supporting evidence must be translated. In 1999 1,085 applications were refused on non-compliance grounds, in 2000 this figure was 23,795 which represent an increase of 2093% in 2000. These refusals will obviously be taken for an appeal and many will result in granting protection.

Myth #3: "They come here to claim our generous benefits"

In fact ... This is the most common allegation against asylum seekers and refugees. Apart from being false, this statement is utterly offensive and racist. The belief that people claim asylum in the UK so they can live on benefits 30% below those considered good enough for UK citizens is laughable. It implies that they do not deserve better because of who they are and where they are from, and that 'our' poverty is too good for them. Asylum seekers are entitled only to the equivalent of 70% of Income Support and even this in the form of humiliating vouchers. A single adult gets £36.54 in vouchers a week and just £10 of that amount can be converted to cash. In addition, asylum seekers are not allowed to apply for work for the first six months after their arrival and if they are waiting for an appeal, they are prohibited from working.

Myth # 4: "Asylum seekers are a burden on the economy and taxpayer"

In fact ... The Government's own report for 1999 -2000 shows that the cost of supporting asylum seekers, including legal aid, welfare benefits, housing, health and education was £597 million or £10.15 per head of population per year or 0.17% of total Government spending (Hansard, 12 April 2000, 227W). Indeed, this is how Tony Blair, Prime Minister answered the question about the cost in House of Commons: "Let me give the House the facts. The total cost of asylum is less than one fifth of 1 per cent of Government spending."

Myth #5: "They are just economic migrants abusing the system"

In fact ... Refugees are people who have been forced to flee their homes by human rights abuses and they deserve the chance to start a new life. They deserve to be treated with respect and dignity because they did nothing wrong. Even criminals are presumed innocent until proven guilty. To deny some applicants a fair and humane hearing is to say that some human beings are of less value than others are. After all, Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution." Equally, economic migrant should not be a dirty word. People have always moved around the world in search of better life. They bring diversity, skills and zest for life. According to a Home Office study, it is estimated that immigrants contribute around 10% more to Government revenues than they receive in Government expenditure. (RDS Occasional Paper 67).

Myth #6: "Refugees who come to the UK using false documents are bogus"

In fact ... For many refugees fleeing persecution or death, a false travel document is the only means of escape. Often governments refuse to issue passports to known political dissidents - or imprison them if they apply. The fact that asylum seekers use false travel documents tells us nothing about whether the person is a refugee or not. Because refugees often cannot obtain all the necessary papers, article 31 of the 1951 Geneva Convention prohibits governments from penalising refugees who use false documents. Most governments, including the UK, require travellers to have visas, creating an enormous obstacle for refugees trying to escape persecution. The more governments put up measures to stop people travelling to their territory, the more refugees are forced to use false documents and turn to smugglers to help them escape.

Myth # 7: "Increased immigration leads to an increase in crime"

In fact ... There is no established connection between immigration and crime. Asylum seekers are people like the rest of us - a few end up in jail, most are law-abiding. In fact, they are themselves victims of physical and verbal abuse and racist attacks. The real scandal is that thousands of asylum seekers are locked up every year in detention centres and prisons while their cases are decided - even though they have committed no crime.

Myth # 8: " Thousands of asylum seekers disappear after they are refused"

In fact ... Thousands of refused asylum seekers are being deported from the UK every year. In 2000, 49,163 persons (dependants included) were removed and deported. 11,493 of them were asylum seekers. Many of them were sent back into the hands of their persecutors. In December 2000 there were 1,195 persons kept in detention centres and 44 prisons in the UK. Their only crime is that they applied for asylum in the UK.

Myth # 9: "Asylum system is a shambles"

In fact ... Asylum system is a shambles, but to blame asylum seekers for that would be as to blame all those who are ill and injured for the problems of National Health Service. The Government is now facing a backlog of more than 60,000 claims. It is spending additional money, time and resources to keep asylum seekers isolated, excluded and poor in order to score cheap political points. Asylum seekers are presumed guilty and it is almost impossible for them to prove their innocence. In the process, they are humiliated with vouchers and degraded through dispersal.

The fact sheet was produced by the NCADC, www.ncadc.org.uk.

Against Deportations

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