ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The United Kingdom government has unveiled new immigration proposals that could require some former asylum seekers to repay up to £10,000 (approximately ₦18 million) in public support they received while awaiting decisions on their asylum applications before they can qualify for permanent settlement.

The proposed changes, contained in a new immigration bill introduced to Parliament on Tuesday, would give the Home Office legal authority to recover the cost of accommodation and financial assistance previously provided to asylum seekers who later become financially stable.

Under the proposed legislation, eligible individuals who have secured employment or acquired sufficient financial resources after being granted protection may be required to reimburse part or all of the support they received during the asylum process. Repayment would become one of the conditions for obtaining indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

The new rules would also extend to former asylum seekers who leave the United Kingdom and subsequently apply to return, ensuring they meet any outstanding repayment obligations before being granted settlement rights.

According to the Home Office, the measure is aimed at reducing the growing financial burden of the UK’s asylum system on taxpayers while ensuring that those who are capable of contributing do so once they are financially established.

Defending the proposal, the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said the government had already made significant progress in cutting asylum-related expenditure but believed it was reasonable to expect beneficiaries who can afford it to help repay public funds.

She said the cost of providing accommodation and other forms of support to asylum seekers remains substantial and places considerable pressure on public finances.

According to Mahmood, while access to asylum support is an important humanitarian commitment, individuals who later achieve financial stability should be expected to contribute towards the costs incurred on their behalf.

Official Home Office figures show that accommodating an asylum seeker currently costs an average of £23.25 per person each night in standard dispersal accommodation. However, the cost rises sharply to around £144 per person per night for those housed in hotels, which have been widely used because of accommodation shortages.

In addition to housing, asylum seekers receive weekly subsistence payments ranging between £9.95 and £49.18, depending on their personal circumstances and the type of support provided.

Government employment data cited by the Home Office indicate that many refugees eventually become economically active after being granted asylum. Around one in four people aged between 16 and 64 who received refugee status between 2015 and 2023 entered employment within the same year they were granted protection.

The proportion increases significantly over time, with about half of refugees securing employment within two years of being granted asylum.

Among refugees who had lived in the UK for eight years after receiving refugee status, 37 per cent were working full-time, earning a median annual salary of approximately £23,000. The figures also show that around 40 per cent earned above the national minimum wage.

The Home Office said the proposed legislation reflects the government’s intention to make the asylum system more financially sustainable by requiring those who are able to repay some of the public assistance they once depended on, while continuing to provide protection for individuals fleeing persecution and conflict.