Government delays introduction of new requirement for failed asylum seekers submitting fresh claims to travel to Liverpool
The Liverpool Echo has reported today that the Home Office has delayed the introduction of a decision to require all failed asylum seekers submitting fresh claims to travel to Liverpool after the city's council went to court to seek an injunction to block the plans.
We reported on the Home Office's decision to change the process for further submissions on asylum and human rights cases here on January 15th. It was due to take effect from today and would mean that all failed asylum seekers in the UK who have exhausted their appeals rights and wish to submit a fresh claim must do so in person in Liverpool at their own expense.
However, Liverpool city council said it had not been consulated and was concerned over the pressure that might be put on services as a result of up to 1,000 extra asylum seekers being forced to come to the city.
The council today went to court to seek an injunction to block the Home Office plans after failing to get the Government to change its mind following a meeting last week.
The Liverpool Echo quoted a council spokesman as saying: "The Home Office told us they are deferring the change for a short period following the representations we made to them last week. This included the lack of consultation and the potential impact upon them coming to the city, and the impact on the asylum seekers themselves. There will be further dialogue. We are still continuing with the legal action."
Scotland's Sunday Herald reported yesterday that the Government also faced another court challenge over its decision.
The Sunday Herald said that the Glasgow-based charity Positive Action in Housing is planning to take the Government to court with the support of Fraser Latta of Latta & Co.
Latta told the Sunday Herald: "I am currently in the process of examining the lawfulness of the proposed changes. They appear on the face of it to potentially obstruct the applicant's rights under the Refugee Convention, the European Convention of Rights and the Qualification Directive."
"The claimed objective is to create a more efficient system. In reality it appears to be another attempt to create difficulties in accessing the asylum system. Indeed, it could be argued that this is in an attempt to force vulnerable people to abandon claims."
Robina Qureshi, the director of Positive Action in Housing, accused the Government of deliberately obstructing refugees seeking asylum by forcing them to travel to Liverpool.
Qureshi told the Sunday Herald: "While the rest of society is permitted to post or email information to utility providers, housing benefits, or even the passport office, refugees seeking asylum are expected to travel to Liverpool without any source of income whatsoever, or face having their asylum claims refused outright. Clearly the government is trying to block successful claims."
"There are good reasons for challenging the Liverpool decision which will adversely affect the elderly, sick, pregnant women, those suffering past trauma, those with limited networks or whose first language is not English. The ones who will suffer as always will be the poorest and most vulnerable."
The charity says that it is implementing a crisis fund to pay for asylum seekers to travel by bus to Liverpool.