The government has disclosed plans to utilize additional military barracks for accommodating asylum seekers, aiming to relocate them from hotels. The Home Office confirmed the closure of 20 more hotels as part of an initiative to transfer individuals to Ministry of Defence (MOD) sites. In response to the decreasing number of Channel crossings, Labour leader Keir Starmer stated that the asylum system is now better managed compared to the previous administration.
Upcoming legislation by Shabana Mahmood is expected to streamline deportation processes by eliminating existing legal barriers. The proposal includes extending the use of asylum sites in Crowborough until 2030 and Wethersfield beyond 2027, along with relocating individuals to MOD Bicester, RAF Barnham, and RAF Linton-on-Ouse.
Critics, including campaign groups, have raised concerns about the suitability of military sites for housing vulnerable individuals, citing potential trauma. Despite this, Starmer defended Labour’s progress on migration issues, emphasizing the importance of preventing a recurrence of past asylum system failures.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson highlighted the government’s achievements in immigration control, emphasizing significant reductions in net migration and Channel crossings. The government aims to close all remaining asylum hotels by 2029, with a focus on transitioning asylum seekers to ex-military sites for improved accommodation conditions.
However, Kamena Dorling from the Helen Bamber Foundation criticized the decision, highlighting the adverse impact of housing asylum seekers in military facilities on their well-being. The announcement precedes the unveiling of Mahmood’s Immigration and Asylum Bill, which will introduce stricter regulations on deportations and asylum appeal processes.
Imran Hussain of the Refugee Council called for a reevaluation of the flawed initial decision-making process instead of making appeals more challenging. The government’s reforms also include amendments to the Modern Slavery Act to address last-minute claims and enhance asylum tribunal procedures.