The fact that an asylum seeker might have entered the country illegally does not mean he or she does not have a credible case. It is virtually impossible for people who are escaping persecution to avoid using false documents. In recognition of this fact, Article 31 of the 1951 Convention on Refugees prohibits governments from penalising refugees who use false documents.
In January 2002, the Advertising Standards Authority agreed that a fax referring to asylum seekers as 'illegals' was racist, offensive and misleading. Around a half of those who apply for asylum in the Uk are found to be in need of Humanitarian protection, the four largest groups of asylum seekers are escaping from countries with harsh and oppressive regimes or severe ethnic conflict – Iraq, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Somalia.
(Home Office)
What people say
Refugees and Asylum Seekers increase unemployment and take jobs away from the host population.
The facts
There is no evidence that refugees and asylum seekers take jobs away from the host population.
Asylum Seekers are not permitted to work despite evidence that they would prefer to support themselves than rely on the State. On getting status refugees pay taxes and generally contribute as others do. Higher proportions of foreign born workers, including refugees, work in construction, cleaning, agriculture and manufacturing than native workers, reflecting the contribution they make to the less popular industries. There is also reliance on migrants to fill the gaps present in the UK labour market, according to the Greater London Authority, 23% of doctors and 47% of nurses working within the NHS were born outside the UK.
The UK's working population is declining. The UN's Population Division reports that low birth rates mean the EU will need to import 1.6 million migrants a year simply to keep its working-age population stable between now and 2050.
What people say
Asylum seekers are more likely to commit crimes than anyone else
The facts
Many media headlines wrongly imply that all asylum seekers are criminals. A report published by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) recently confirmed that there is no evidence that refugees and asylum seekers are more likely than other people to commit crimes. Ironically, the evidence suggests that people trying to find protection from victimisation in their home country, are likely to become victims of crime in the UK. There have been countless attacks on asylum seekers, around Britain, including the murder of an asylum seeker in Glasgow in 2001. The murder in Glasgow prompted the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to condemn the British media for provoking racial hatred.
What people say
Asylum seekers are forcing local people to wait longer for essential health services.
The facts
GPs are mainly independent self-employed contractors to the NHS and are under no obligation to accept particular patients. If GPs feel they cannot cope with more patients, they do not have to accept new ones. Asylum seekers are not given preferential treatment over UK citizens when they apply to register with a GP.
(General Medical Council)
What people say
Asylum seekers are just a huge expense to the British taxpayer.
The facts
A recent Home Office study found that, far from being a burden on UK taxpayers, migrants made a net contribution of approximately £2.5 billion to income tax in 1999-2000. Throughout history, migrants (including refugees) have made invaluable contributions to our economic and cultural life, for example:
- fish and chips were brought to the UK by 17th-century Jews expelled from Portugal;
- Alec Issigonis, who fled the war between Turkey and Greece, was the brain behind the Mini and the Morris Minor;
- Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud were refugees; and
- Sir John Hoblon, the first Governor of the Bank of England, was the grandson of an asylum seeker from France.
(Home Office occasional paper 77)
What people say
Britain is just a soft touch — look at Sangatte.
The facts
No, even within the EU, the UK ranked 10th in terms of asylum applications in relation to the overall population in 2001. Worldwide, it ranked 32nd. Contrary to what people think, it is the world's poorest countries that give most sanctuary, with the greatest burden falling on Iran, Burundi and Guinea for example, there are 1.5 million Afghan refugees in Iran.
A recent MORI poll shows how important it is to give people correct information – on average, people think that 23% of the world's refugees and asylum seekers are in the UK; the truth, is that less than 2% of them are in the UK.
Yes, some of the Sangatte refugees wanted to seek asylum in the UK, according to Home Office research, reasons for doing so will have included a wish to join family, friends and communities settled in the UK and others because of an affinity with the UK in terms of language and historical ties.
The idea that Britain, or indeed any other European country, is a 'soft touch' is simply not true. As European countries – introduce increasingly tougher immigration controls, it is becoming extremely difficult to enter Europe.
(MORI)
(Home Office Research Study 243)
What people say
Most asylum seekers are terrorists and should be locked up in detention centres on arrival for our security.
The facts
A policy of detaining all asylum seekers on arrival will do little to improve security. It is very unlikely that organised terrorists are going to use the asylum system because they know this will bring them to the attention of the authorities. Asylum seekers in the UK are screened, fingerprinted, issued with ID cards, and security checked.
