The UK government has announced plans to deploy asylum seekers across the country, prioritizing them over British citizens in housing allocations.
This move comes amid a significant backlog in asylum applications, which has surged in recent years, leaving many waiting for decisions.
As of mid-2023, around 175,500 individuals were awaiting an initial decision, a drastic increase since 2010.
The government aims to streamline the asylum process and increase the number of returns for those whose claims are unsuccessful.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the need for a more organized system to replace the current chaotic state.
New measures include deploying 100 intelligence officers to combat people smuggling and reopening detention centers to increase capacity for failed asylum seekers.
Critics argue that the government’s approach, including the controversial Rwanda plan, has been ineffective and costly.
Despite the challenges, the government insists that these measures are crucial for maintaining border security and managing the ongoing influx of asylum seekers, which has become a pressing issue in UK politics.