Legal fight against temporary “prisons” of asylum seekers in UK

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The port on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, United Kingdom, was the scene of protests last week as a group of asylum seekers were turned away by boat. BB Stockholm Following a suspected Legionella outbreak.

Labor councilor Caroline Parks has already taken the case to court. Underhill is the community representative on the Portland City CouncilIn the complaint against the Ministry of Home Affairs, it was rejected at the first instance.

Now, a new lawsuit against Dorset City Council has been brought by the same councilors to try to stop this temporary accommodation of boat migrants again, in what many Dorset residents say are not decent conditions and are like a prison for reasonable people. Looking for a better life.

A BB Stockholm It is leased by the government, has been anchored in a private part of the harbor on the Isle of Portland since July and recently had to be evacuated due to traces of Legionnaires’ disease, a type of bacteria that causes pneumonia.

Asylum seekers were rehoused at the hotel, but last week they started being transported back to the boat.

A protest by the “Just Stop Oil” movement on Thursday sought to block the first bus carrying asylum seekers. BB StockholmBut without success.

Immigrant Complaints

One of the asylum seekers, who spoke anonymously to the BBC, said it had been a “difficult” process and that he felt “free” in the hotel, but now “it’s scary”. “I lived on the boat for five days and I already have experience, that’s why I’m not happy to come back,” he admitted, describing the ship as “like a prison”.

The order of the day is the British administration of the diaspora, another episode that emphasizes the friction between many citizens and Rishi Sunak’s conservative government.

The British executive is determined to halt the arrival of asylum seekers in Great Britain, while trying to implement a plan to process migrants in third countries such as Rwanda.

With this, the Home Office, led by Suella Braverman, hopes to address the ever-increasing number of asylum seekers in the United Kingdom, reflecting the weight they represent on the public purse, which is increasingly affected by the negative impact of Brexit.

With more than 17,000 asylum seekers currently awaiting a decision in the UK, Rishi Sunak’s government says it is already costing eight million pounds (over nine million euros) a day to manage these migrants. , especially for staying in migrant hostels.

From the Government’s point of view, renting out temporary accommodation like boats BB StockholmThat could help cut the bill, but some Dorset residents see these solutions as mere prisons.

Residents’ opinion

Stuart Harkness lives on the Isle of Portland, where the barge is located, and to him “it doesn’t make any sense”. “I don’t think it makes sense for most people to be kind to other human beings,” he told Euronews.

Harry Keenen also lives on the island and argues that the “problem” for “most locals” has to do with “the demographic impact it represents”. “I mean, they’re single men,” he adds.

Susan Kelly argues that “asylum seekers should be processed appropriately”. “Also, if their claim is valid, they should be integrated into our communities. I don’t agree with keeping them here as prisoners. It’s inhumane,” said another Portland Island resident.

A BB Stockholm Designed to accommodate 500 men, it is seen by the government as part of a temporary solution to cut public spending and places regional authorities without authority, leading the court to reject a councilor’s claim against the ministry. Interior.

Carolyn Parks, who raised more than £25,000 (€28,600) in public fundraising to cover the costs of the case, lost it, and will now launch herself against Dorset City Council, which has already said it has no authority over what is happening. Put in the harbor of the Isle of Portland.

A boat in a privately owned harbor is one of the ways the British government has tried to show asylum seekers planning to travel to Britain that the British asylum process does not have the luxury of managing traces of bacteria. The ‘Legionella’ plaque may also have had an inhibitory effect.

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Concerns have also been raised about fire safety on board and far-right activity in the region, but the British government has promised it will be safe again and will help reduce the cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels.

“It sounds like an interesting strategy to me, but I don’t know how comfortable the locals are with such a large number of people,” asked James Harrison, another Portland resident.

Another, Jason Diehl, recalled, “There were a lot of people.” PP Stosholm “We need to assess whether they are economic migrants or refugees”. “They are piling up and these people have to be relocated. I don’t know if this is where they should go, but they have to go somewhere”, he argues.

Meanwhile, asylum seekers are back on boats on the island of Portland, and a new legal process is underway, although there is little chance of success, but the issue is being talked about and the controversy over managing the migration crisis continues. rising in tone.

At the same time, more migrants are landing in Great Britain and the impact of Brexit on people’s lives is worsening, with increasing labor shortages in various sectors, stagnant wages and growing social protests.