The Issues for Asylum Seekers AFTER the Covid-19 Pandemic
摘要
Many vulnerable individuals from marginalised groups were negatively impacted during the pandemic, and when social restrictions lifted after the severity of the pandemic started to reduce, many asylum seekers found themselves with new challenges to overcome to be recognised as refugees by the Home Office. This chapter reflects how the pandemic exacerbated many of the problems which were experienced by asylum seekers and refugees during the pandemic and how they were compounded alongside new barriers to identification and support. Highlighting the other issues and challenges they faced once the restrictions from the pandemic were lifted is an important and often overlooked issue which requires attention. Specifically, these were the length of time asylum seekers had to wait for their decisions from the Home Office and secondly, the ongoing housing crisis which affects the provision of accommodation being given to asylum seekers as a priority need and at the expense of UK nationals. The chapter states how the increased number of backlogged asylum cases are being processed by the Home Office and the pressure which is felt by local authorities to house asylum seekers is contributing to a deterioration in their mental health. It discusses the role the organisation played in supporting asylum seekers and refugees given the hostile treatment by some sections of the media, political establishment and parts of the electorate.