Emigration Lawyers Criticize UK Detention of Asylum Seekers

Apparently emigration lawyers are currently criticizing the UK detention of asylum seekers under the new fast track system. They are claiming that it leads to rushed decisions, and these emigrants are not getting the right amount of time put into their cases.

Home Office ministers are to opt out of a European directive which lays down standards for the treatment of asylum claims. Of course, this would mean abandoning the fast track process that leads to hundreds of asylum seekers being detained every year.

This big decision has been criticized by emigration lawyers and peers who believe that the detention of asylum seekers at Yarl's Wood and Harmondsworth removal centers is wrong – mostly due to the fact that this procedure does lead to rushed and unfair decisions, because there is no time to gather the evidence that is needed to properly examine the cases.

The current fast track asylum procedure was introduced back in 2003 and involves emigration officers making an initial decision within two weeks while the asylum seeker is in detention. Ministers fear that the EU directive, which forms a key part in developing a common asylum policy, will also block certain deportations. About 150 failed asylum seekers a year are told that lodging an appeal against their claims being turned down will not, in anyway, halt their deportation, and they can only appeal once they have left Britain.

A statement that was just recently posted on the Home Office website says that it would cost an extra £37 million to implement the asylum procedures directive. It goes on to say that the UK is formally obliged to opt in or opt out to these proposals. If they do not opt in to the procedures, the proposals will not apply to the UK.