British government places asylum seekers on military bases: “Basic needs, nothing more” | Abroad

Last year, more than 45,000 migrants, a record, reached British shores by crossing the Channel in small boats. Because of that high number, the British asylum system came under considerable pressure.

Secretary of State for Immigration Robert Jenrick said in parliament that hotel costs for migrants amount to €2.6 billion for British taxpayers. He noted that the migrants staying in hotels has led to less tourism, canceled weddings and other losses.

“The reception of migrants must meet their basic needs, nothing more,” said the state secretary. “We must not risk becoming a magnet for millions of people who flee each year in search of a better economic future.”

The three military sites are located in Essex and East Sussex in the south of England and Lincolnshire in the east. By repurposing the old barracks and installing ready-to-move-in buildings, the project should provide shelter for “thousands of asylum seekers”, according to Jenrick.

Secretary of State James Cleverly criticized plans for the military base in Essex, his constituency. He wrote on Facebook on Tuesday evening that the remote site is not suitable for asylum reception due to the limited transport infrastructure and narrow road network.

With a tough approach, the conservative British government wants to discourage migrants from coming to the United Kingdom illegally. The controversial plan to send migrants crossing the Channel to Rwanda without the chance to apply for asylum has been suspended pending a ruling on the merits of the matter. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner have sharply criticized the plan.