LONDON

Unaccompanied asylum seekers in the UK face multiple threats, including deportation to Rwanda, if they complain about accommodation conditions in the country, according to a report published Thursday March 23 by Refugee Action.

A refugee advocacy group stated in its report entitled “Hostile Accommodation” that asylum seekers are exposed to conditions that actively harm their physical and mental health.

“People in asylum accommodation who complained have been threatened with police or deported to Rwanda, or denied entry to public areas. In one case, police warned people who were protesting peacefully and told them to leave the accommodation if they were not happy.”

As for unaccompanied housing conditions, Refugee Action pointed out that the problems created by poor accommodation would be “much worse because of the government’s plan to lock up tens of thousands of refugees in indefinite detention” under the new law.

The report further found that people were staying in hotels for longer periods of time and being held in “de facto detention” as their movements were monitored and restricted.

See also: Presenter who criticized UK migration laws to return to his show on BBC

“Poor accommodation results in major health impacts, sometimes life-threatening, as people with chronic conditions are hospitalized for (receiving) unhealthy food and disabled people are left in accommodation where it is difficult to get in and out,” he said.

Tim Naor Hilton, executive director of the NGO, said the Illegal Migration Bill would exacerbate an already bad situation.

“The bill must be scrapped, the housing system reviewed and local authorities and NGOs properly funded to operate integrated housing, support and legal advice services,” he added.

The report is based on an analysis of a survey of 100 people in Manchester, Birmingham and London from mid-2021 to January 2023, the group said.

Earlier this month, the British government introduced the Illegal Migration Bill, which aims to expel migrants who entered the country in small boats after detaining most for their first 28 days of entry without bail or review.

*Aicha Sandoval Alaguna contributed to writing this note.

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