With the Rwanda Bill going back to Parliament this week, it will soon pass into law and we will have the odd situation of our Government voting to say a country is safe to send Asylum Seekers to, when our Supreme Court and many other institutions have stated that it is not. It also exempts the removals legislation from Human Rights Law, something which is deeply disturbing. Currently £300 million has been spent or earmarked for this project to send a small number of Asylum Seekers to Rwanda, in the hope that it will stop the boat crossings in the Channel.
This is not the only change underway. The past six months have been incredibly busy, as people empty out of the Asylum System, through a Fast Track programme, clearing the Emergency Hotels and Asylum Decision backlog: it is organised chaos. There is not enough Social Housing to cope with this and thousands of people in the Asylum System being granted leave to remain, (after years of waiting,) have ended up sofa surfing or sneaking back into their old Home Office accommodation, in order to avoid street homelessness.
This has not always been possible and tents and sleeping bags have been distributed to those unlucky enough to find themselves without friends or contacts who could offer a couch or a floor. Speaking to one young man, he was almost in tears, describing the fear of his first night on the street. ‘It’s too dangerous’ he said.
I know of no other sanctioned governmental system that operates in this way and can cause so much misery to so many people. Just when you think it cannot get worse, the numbers of Asylum Refusals and Withdrawals have started to increase. A withdrawal takes place when the Government deems that an Asylum Seeker has been out of contact, missed an appointment or not complied with the rules. In November 2023, the Home Office admitted that they have ‘lost’ 17,000 people who had their claims withdrawn. Sitting behind this the Home Office’s ATLAS computer system strongly criticized in a recent article in the Guardian. “Major flaws in a huge Home Office immigration database have resulted in more than 76,000 people being listed with incorrect names, photographs or immigration status.”
A question I might pose after reading the article is, can we believe what the Government is telling us about these withdrawn claims? In 2021, a changeover in ASPEN payment system to asylum seekers, resulted in thousands going without money, many for weeks, as cards went to the wrong address, had incorrect details or were returned to the Home Office.
After all that, it is quite difficult to see where the silver lining in the cloud might be, but despite all this, there have been high points, like the recent Beatles Night at the West Kirby Methodists fundraiser for ALM. It was joyous and an antidote to bad news.
In December the Action Asylum project had a day tree planting in North Wales. The fresh sunny weather and the magnificent clear views of the Clwydian Hills raised everyone’s spirits and allowed people to park their issues for a while. The day was recorded for BBC Radio4’s Open Country and can be heard on the podcast here. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001tqsk
In December the Action Asylum project had a day tree planting in North Wales. The fresh sunny weather and the magnificent clear views of the Clwydian Hills raised everyone’s spirits and allowed people to park their issues for a while. The day was recorded for BBC Radio4’s Open Country and can be heard on the podcast here. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001tqsk
So as the days get longer and the weather warms, we’re gearing up for Refugee Week (Our Home is this year’s theme), starting projects with the Choir, writing music, with the Women’s Group, producing ‘Zines’ and the 101 other things that make life better for the Refugees who have come to the St Anne’s Centre, looking for friendship, welcome, support and a place to belong.
Cheers, Ewan
Ewan Roberts, Centre Manager
Asylum Link Merseyside ALM
St Anne’s Centre, 7 Overbury Street, Liverpool L7 3HJ
0151 709 1713 (ext4901)
O God, we thank you for the life of Edmund Rice.
He opened his heart to Christ present in those oppressed by poverty and injustice.
May we follow his example of faith and generosity.
Grant us the courage and compassion of Edmund as we seek to live lives of love and service.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.