Once there were the times when Britain was grabbing attention from asylum seekers from most troubled areas, especially from those 3rd world countries where people were suppressed and had no chance of surviving or living a decent life style. Undemocratic Governments and economic conditions played a major roll in this kind of population migration. Till now UK has a very lenient attitude towards asylum cases, (although it is estimated that only 5% of those cases are genuine but about 80% others get away by exploiting loopholes in our legal system.) because of the blooming economics and NEED for cheaper labour. (Which is no longer required, because of recent extension in EU.) It was thought that this open door policy will benefit economy and once these immigrants are granted asylum they will work and contribute to society, but it saddens me, that with time it got worse and more appalling is the fact that NOW people from 1st world are also exploiting this system and some of them even living here on benefits, where as British people are working hard and paying for THIER bills. A recent repot tells us that not only Kurds, Afghans, Iraqi are coming here in masses but now AMERICANS (SOURCE)](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=410653&in_page_id=1770) are also added in this list. Well I can understand if some Columbians or Cubans were applying for asylum (although their 1st choice should be Canada) but Americans applying for asylum is beyond my comprehension! I mean on what grounds they were granted asylum! Was there a dictator ruling? The legal system was corrupt? Or there was no social & health support (which I think is a bogus excuse because no one gets an asylum on THAT ground), or they were running from Al-Qaida. :rolleyes:
I think, its about time to close this open door policy and put a limit to these cases.. and those who come from developed countries and seek asylum here should be deported on the spot (no question asked)
Re: UK a safe heaven for asylum seekers?
Americans who apply for asylum are always rejected.
Britain has a list of countries from which asylum applications are always rejected. I used to work at a charity that dealt with asylum seekers and read many such case files.
Interestingly, Pakistan has been on that list since Musharraf took over. Every single Pakistani asylum claimant who's file I read was rejected because Britain's government maintains that the Musharraf regime does not persecute its political opponents, and so anyone alleging systematic persecution is lying.
Similarly with the USA. Whilst people from the USA do claim asylum in Britain, Britain's policy is that no state persecution exists in the USA and so all applicants are rejected.
Re: UK a safe heaven for asylum seekers?
^I am almost agreed with the info.......these countries are called "Safe Countries"
Maddy..........I think Pakistan is still not on that list, however they dont grant any asylum to any Pakistani nowadays........they will straight the way deport that female/male to Pakistan if they claim asylum.
You do a search on homeoffice website and correct me ....... because my info is 1yr old.
Re: UK a safe heaven for asylum seekers?
My info is 6 years old 
Re: UK a safe heaven for asylum seekers?
Maddy, check the link in 1st post please. further more this thread is not about American's getting asylum. should UK keep her open door policy or not?
Re: UK a safe heaven for asylum seekers?
they are trying to enforce strict measures now for the asylum cases as a little percentage is genuine.
Re: UK a safe heaven for asylum seekers?
UK open door policy needs a few things
1) more due diligence on assylum seekers
2) assylum seekers are returned after the basis of their assylum is no longer in
3) assylees can only become residents if after a specific (long) window of time the situation has not changed, I say give it a decade.
there is an issue of ppl just showing up on fairly bogus grounds and staying, the intention for such ppl was never to escape some issues but just use this as a doorway to immigrate.
Back in the day of MQM folks running to US and Canada for assylum, there were ppl who had never stepped into karachi or be 'mohajir', let alone an MQm member, but they were pouring into US and Canada. I know of two ppl personally who used this approach.
Re: UK a safe heaven for asylum seekers?
All I want from them is to extradite Altaf Hussain.. there's some long waterboarding waiting for that traitor.
Re: UK a safe heaven for asylum seekers?
There is political persecution in every country, just that they do it very discreetly and make them appear to be tragic acidents.
Re: UK a safe heaven for asylum seekers?
I agreed with Mr. Frauds......real refugees are just 5%.....they really need protection...I am with them.
Last year UK gov. have changed its policy and now they dont offer indefinite leave to remain to a refugee as defined by the 1951 Geneva Convention.
They just offer 5years stay and then review the case for further consideration. Before this refugee was free to saty in UK permanently.