The impact of the Refugee Ban Bill on homelessness and destitution
The Illegal Migration Bill currently working its way through parliament will effectively extinguish the right to seek asylum in the UK. The damage it will do to people seeking sanctuary here, including children and those experiencing trafficking and modern slavery, as well as to the UK’s international reputation, are immense. In this briefing, Praxis and the No Accommodation Network (NACCOM) examine the likely impact of the bill on destitution and homelessness for migrants in the UK.
The Refugee Council estimate that at the end of three years following the provisions coming into effect, between 161,147 and 192,670 people will have had a claim for protection deemed inadmissible but will not have been removed from the UK, due to the lack of returns agreements in place with third countries.1 People in this position, as well as being unable to have their claims processed, will be unable to work. Although some will be eligible for destitution-related support from the Home Office, many may face barriers to accessing this.
With the Bill denying any asylum-related route to settlement in the UK, disengagement from the asylum system will likely increase, as will the number of people who choose to disappear into the community upon arrival rather than presenting themselves to the authorities. Those who do this will be dependent on informal support networks.
Years of experience working with non-UK nationals experiencing homelessness tells us that people seeking protection in the UK must be supported to unlock their full potential within communities. Yet the Bill thus leaves people whose claims have been deemed inadmissible in permanent purgatory. As such, it is likely to drive the growth of an ever-larger population of people unable to put down roots in our communities, and highly vulnerable to destitution, homelessness, and exploitation, as well as worsening health and wellbeing.
Praxis also contributed to a longer cross-sectoral briefing for Peers which examines the wider impacts of the Bill on those seeking sanctuary in the UK. This can be accessed here.