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Myth: Most asylum seekers are 'bogus'
Fact: In 31% of initial decisions in 2002, the Home Office granted
applicants refugee status or ruled that it was unsafe for them to
return to their country of origin. Taking into account successful
appeals and cases where the Home Office overturned its own initial
decisions, up to 51% of applicants that year were finally successful.
The claim that most refugees are not genuine fails to recognise
that the top countries of origin for those seeking asylum, namely
Iraq, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Somalia and Sri Lanka, are torn by
ethnic conflict, war, and oppressive regimes.
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Myth: Britain is a 'soft touch' for asylum seekers
Fact: The streets of Britain are not paved with gold for
arriving refugees. Asylum seekers are not allowed to claim mainstream
welfare benefits. If they are destitute, the only option for some
is to apply for support with the National Asylum Support Service
(NASS). NASS support is very basic. A single adult has to survive
on £37.77 a week - 30% below the poverty line.
A recent Home Office study found no evidence to suggest that asylum
seekers had a detailed knowledge of the UK's asylum policies. The
main reasons that people seek asylum in Britain are their country's
historic or colonial links with the UK, the presence of family and
friends and the fact that English is the prime global language (Home
Office research study July 2002)
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Myth: Asylum seekers are responsible for much of Britain's crime
Fact: A report published by the Association of Chief Police
Officers (ACPO) recently confirmed that there is no evidence for
a higher rate of criminality among refugees and asylum seekers.
In fact, according to ACPO, asylum seekers are more likely to become
victims of crime. There have been countless attacks on asylum seekers
around Britain, including the murders of an asylum seeker in Glasgow
in 2001 and in Sunderland in 2002. The murder in Glasgow prompted
the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to condemn the British media
for provoking racial hatred.
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Myth: Asylum seekers are draining NHS resources
Fact: Like other residents and visitors to the UK, asylum
seekers are entitled to NHS services. But in no way do they drain
resources to the detriment of UK citizens. In fact immigrants are
the backbone of the NHS. According the Greater London Authority,
23% of doctors and 47% of nurses working within the NHS were born
outside the UK.
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Myth: Refugees are a burden to taxpayers
Fact: Asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants have made
an enormous contribution to the economic and cultural life of the
UK. Refugees bring with them a wealth of skills and experience.
Even the Home Office has recognised this and made a commitment,
through its Integration Unit, to put such skills to good use.
Migrants, including refugees, are far from being a burden on UK
taxpayers. On the contrary, in 1999-2000, they made a net fiscal
contribution of approximately £2.5 billion, worth 1p on income tax.
Research carried out by Personnel Today in November 2001 found that
nine out of ten employers want to take on refugees to meet skills
shortages, but do not due to ignorance of the law and confusing
Home Office paperwork.
Asylum seekers are demonised for draining the state when they are
discouraged from being independent because they are legally prevented
from working.
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Myth: Britain is the top destination for asylum seekers
Fact: Even within the EU, the UK ranked 10th in 2001 in
number of asylum applications compared to the country's population.
The world's poorest countries both produce and bear responsibility
for most refugees. During 1992-2001, 86% of the world's estimated
12 million refugees originated in developing countries, while such
countries provided asylum to 72%. In comparison with countries like
Canada, the UK is no 'soft touch'. In 2001, Canada granted protection
to 97% of Afghan asylum applicants, while the UK granted only 19%.
Somali applicants had a 92% success rate in Canada, while in the
UK it was only 34%.
An analysis by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
showed that the major reason for lodging applications in a particular
country is the presence of an established community there. In January
to June 2000, of all applications in Europe, 96% of people from
Mali sought asylum in France, 60% of Albanians applied in Belgium,
48% of Nigerians applied in Ireland and 45% of Sri Lankans applied
in the UK.
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Useful websites
Refugee Council
The largest organisation in the UK working with asylum seekers and refugees.
Contains myths and facts, publications and other information.
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk
Scottish Refugee Council
This Scottish charity provides advice, information and assistance to
asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland.
www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk
Guardian
Unlimited
An investigation into asylum and immigration in Britain.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Refugees_in_Britain/0,2759,180745,00.html
BBC
Online's Road to Refuge
A special report on the world's refugee crisis containing in-depth interviews
investigating why people are forced to leave their homes.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2001/road_to_refuge/default.stm
Home Office Asylum
statistics
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
Nationality, Immigration
and Asylum Act 2002
www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/20020041.htm
National Coalition of Anti-Deportation campaigns
(NCADC)
www.ncadc.org.uk
The European Council on Refugees and Exile (ECRE)
An organisation established in 1973 to promote a humane asylum policy
in Europe.
www.ecre.org
Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants
JCWI is an independent national organisation working for justice in immigration,
nationality, and refugee law and policy.
www.jcwi.org.uk
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