An asylum seeker is someone who has fled their country and is asking for protection from persecution and serious human rights abuses in another country. They haven't yet been recognised as a refugee and are waiting for a decision on their asylum request. The right to seek asylum is a human right, meaning everyone should be allowed to enter a country to ask for protection.
Here in Cornwall
In 2023 the Home Office temporarily housed some asylum seekers in Newquay. There are currently no asylum seekers living in Cornwall, although there may be in the future as part of the UK’s overall response.
The background
Most asylum seekers flee over their nearest border, where they are likely to live in camps. This can be seen in the case of Syria. Of the 6.7 million Syrian refugees globally, a staggering 4.6 million are being hosted by its neighbours – Turkey and Lebanon.
Asylum seekers come from many parts of the world. Government statistics suggest that for the year ending September 2021 highest numbers came from:
- Iran
- Eritrea
- Albania
- Iraq
- Syria
Most asylum seekers will stay in the first safe country they come to. So 80% of the world’s asylum seekers and refugees are living in countries neighbouring their country of origin.
Only 0.2% of the UK population is made up of refugees and asylum seekers.
The number one reason that asylum seekers give for continuing their journey to the UK is that they have family ties here. This covers over 50% of cases.
It is also not uncommon for asylum seekers to also state their belief that the UK is a safe, tolerant and democratic country. They may also refer to previous links between their own country and the UK.
There is no legal requirement for an asylum seeker to make their claim in any particular country.
The UK response
The Home Office is responsible for accommodating people seeking asylum in the UK.
The government uses a variety of accommodation, including:
- emergency accommodation
- dispersal or bridging accommodation
- intermediate accommodation
Information about asylum accommodation can be found through these links:
Asylum seekers will normally be able to stay in dispersal accommodation until their asylum claim has been fully determined.
When an asylum claim (including any appeals) has been fully determined, asylum seekers will need to leave asylum accommodation. Home Office support will also stop. If granted leave to remain, an asylum seeker is recognised as a refugee and will be eligible to:
- work
- claim mainstream benefits
- look for housing
and get help with these in the same ways as other UK residents.