UK to Deport Asylum Seekers to France Under New Pact
The UK and France have signed a new agreement to deport asylum seekers who cross the Channel illegally, amid reports of poor living conditions and racist attacks against refugees in Britain.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The United Kingdom and France have signed a significant new agreement to tighten measures against refugees, including a provision to deport asylum seekers who arrive in the UK illegally, a move that comes as conditions for those awaiting asylum in Britain are reportedly becoming increasingly difficult.
According to a detailed report from Dilovan Emadaldin, Kurdistan24's correspondent in London, European countries, particularly the UK and France, have intensified their measures aimed at limiting the arrival of refugees.
The centerpiece of this new approach is a bilateral agreement designed to reduce the number of asylum seekers who cross the English Channel through illicit means.
The report from Kurdistan24's correspondent outlines the core mechanics of the new UK-France agreement. Under its terms, any asylum seeker who arrives in the UK illegally will be subject to deportation back to France within a 14-day period.
In a reciprocal arrangement, France will then permit an equal number of asylum seekers who have established family ties in the UK to enter the country through legal channels. The implementation of this new policy is scheduled to begin on August 24th.
The initial phase of the plan will see 50 asylum seekers who have arrived in the UK illegally being deported to France each week.
The new agreement is being implemented against a backdrop of what the Kurdistan24 correspondent describes as a very difficult situation for asylum seekers currently residing in the UK.
Those who have applied for asylum and are awaiting a decision from the government are reportedly facing severe housing problems, as landlords often refuse to rent to them due to their lack of a job and a stable income.
This has resulted in most asylum seekers being housed in hotels, where the correspondent notes that living conditions are very poor and that residents have faced racist attacks.
Furthermore, the financial support provided to asylum seekers is minimal.
They are given a weekly allowance of just £30, an amount described as not enough to cover their basic needs. This has reportedly forced some of them to seek out illegal work simply to make a living.
While the deportations are scheduled to begin on Aug. 24th, their implementation could face obstacles.
Dilovan Emadaldin also noted that the process could be delayed if lawyers and human rights organizations file legal challenges against the decision.
The UK government, in turn, is reportedly keen to implement the deportation process quickly, before legal teams have an opportunity to act.
Dilovan Emadaldin, Kurdistan24's correspondent in London, contributed to this report.
