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The number of people waiting for a decision on an asylum claim in the UK has reached a record high of 175,000, a 44% increase since June 2022. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has stated that reducing this backlog and preventing people from arriving in the UK by boat are top priorities.
In 2022, approximately 45% of asylum applications made in the UK were from individuals who arrived in small boats. A total of 45,755 migrants crossed the Channel that year, marking the highest number since data collection began in 2018. Since then, over 100,000 individuals have made the hazardous crossing.
Comparatively, small boat arrivals in the UK during the period from January to July 2023 have increased by 13% compared to the same period in the previous year, reaching the highest total for that time frame since 2016. Most migrants arrive in Europe through the Mediterranean, with Italy receiving the largest number of small boat arrivals. The peak number of EU migrants occurred in 2015, when more than one million individuals fled the Syria conflict.
More than 36,000 people claimed asylum in the UK during the first half of 2023. In 2022, the total number of asylum requests exceeded 89,000. The highest number of annual applications, including dependants, was recorded in 2002 at approximately 103,000, primarily due to individuals fleeing conflicts in Afghanistan, Somalia, and Iraq. However, claims significantly decreased to a 20-year low of 22,600 in 2010.
The top countries of origin for asylum seekers in the UK during the first half of 2023 were Afghanistan (3,366), Iran (just over 3,200), India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Notably, Ukrainian refugees who arrived in the UK following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are not included in these figures.
Some individuals wait for months or even years for their asylum claims to be processed. As of June 2023, the majority (80%) of those in the backlog have been waiting for more than six months for an initial decision on their claim. While their claims are being processed, these individuals are not permitted to work, but they can apply for jobs on the UK shortage occupation list after 12 months. Many asylum seekers are currently housed in hotels, at an estimated daily cost of £6 million.
The Home Office has the authority to remove individuals who have no legal right to stay in the UK. In the year leading up to March 2023, a total of 3,354 individuals who had previously claimed asylum in the UK were returned to their countries of origin. This represents a 68% increase compared to the previous year, driven in part by a substantial rise in returns of individuals from Albania. Enforced returns primarily involved foreign national offenders, with 46% consisting of EU nationals. Albanians and Romanians accounted for 25% and 18% of all enforced returns, respectively.
In 2022, the UK ranked fifth in Europe in terms of asylum applications, behind Germany, France, Spain, and Austria. France had the second-highest number of applications (137,510), followed by Spain (116,135) and Austria (106,380). During 2022, the UK authorities made initial decisions on 18,699 asylum applications, granting 14,211 of them (76%). In comparison, Germany made 197,540 asylum decisions, of which over 50% were granted. France, a country with a similar-sized population to the UK, made 129,735 decisions, also granting over 50%.
The distinction between an asylum seeker and a migrant lies in the reason for their relocation. An asylum seeker is an individual who has applied for protection in another country due to persecution or the fear of persecution. If their application is successful, they are granted permission to remain in the country where they sought refuge. However, if their application is denied, they may be removed. On the other hand, a migrant is someone who has left their country of origin but has not claimed asylum. Migrants may leave their countries for various reasons such as work or study. An illegal migrant refers to someone who entered the UK without a visa or authorization, or someone who entered legally but remained in the country after their visa expired.