Under the legislation, irregularly arriving migrants are barred from the asylum system
The newly implemented UK Illegal Migration Act is projected to create a permanent backlog of over 30,000 asylum applications, leaving thousands in an indefinite state of limbo, according to a recent report from the Institute for Policy Research (IPPR), an independent charity.
This situation arose from the legislation’s provisions, which bar irregularly arriving migrants from the asylum system, despite the impracticality of returning many to their countries of origin due to safety concerns.
Under the act, the UK Home Secretary is mandated to consider migrants who arrive through non-official routes permanently inadmissible for asylum, aiming to deter irregular migration. However, the act has been criticized for trapping a significant number of asylum seekers in a "perma-backlog," unable to be processed and ineligible for removal due to the dangers in their home countries.
The report highlights a significant challenge for the Home Office in addressing the cases of migrants who arrived during the legislation's passage through Parliament. These individuals, who are now caught between the old and new legal frameworks, cannot be easily integrated into the UK or returned home. The only relief the Home Office can offer is a limited leave to remain under certain conditions, citing human rights obligations.
This policy has humanitarian implications and a substantial financial impact on the UK. The cost of the asylum system has escalated to £3.97 billion in the 2022-2023 period, a stark increase from £500 million a decade ago. The IPPR report predicts this figure will rise even further as the government continues to provide accommodations and support to migrants in the backlog.
Marley Morris, IPPR's associate director for migration, criticized the Home Office's handling of the situation, stating, "Chaos in the home office has led to tens of thousands of asylum seekers stuck in a perma-backlog, unable to get on with their lives and costing the taxpayer millions. This was an entirely predictable outcome of the Illegal Migration Act." Morris urged the government to begin processing claims to allow asylum seekers to integrate into the UK society or be repatriated safely.
The report comes in the wake of a Home Office announcement claiming to have addressed the "legacy" backlog of asylum cases, fulfilling a pledge by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Despite this claim, the IPPR has identified thousands of "complex cases" pending, alongside tens of thousands more caught in prolonged assessment processes post-act enforcement.
