Asylum seekers in Britain are set to face a tough order, as they will henceforth be required to pay around £10,000 (approximately N18.2m) for accommodation and basic living support before becoming eligible to apply for settlement, the government said on Monday in its latest effort to deter illegal migration.
Immigration is one of the most contested issues in British politics, consistently ranking among voters’ top concerns in opinion polls and, at times, fuelling protests and community tension.
This is part of the efforts to cut the annual budget for asylum, which is in the region of £4 billion.
The new measures were announced by the UK Home Office on Tuesday on its X handle.
“New reforms will see asylum seekers pay towards the cost of their housing and financial support.
“Migrants who can afford to are expected to have to pay around £10,000 to be eligible for settlement,” the Office wrote on its X handle.
Under the proposed rule, those who leave the UK will also be required to settle any outstanding dues if they wish to return.
Payments are intended to be means-tested, with options for monthly contributions or deductions from benefits, as well as safeguards to prevent individuals from being left destitute.
The policy forms part of efforts to reduce the financial burden on taxpayers.
The interior ministry estimates that accommodating asylum seekers costs an average of £23.25 per person per night in temporary housing and £144 in hotels, plus a weekly subsistence payment. In total the annual cost of asylum accommodation and support was estimated at about £4 billion last year.
Home Office officials described the change as a way of ensuring that those who benefit from state support eventually contribute when they are able.
Explaining the rationale behind the policy, the Interior Minister, Shabana Mahmood, said the reforms were designed to reduce the burden on taxpayers.
“Receiving asylum support is a right, but it is also a responsibility. Once people can contribute and repay the generosity of the British people, we expect them to do so,” she said.
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