Asylum seekers housed in hotels across the South East of England are reporting intense fear and a “state of constant anxiety,” directly linked to a recent wave of nationwide demonstrations targeting their accommodations.
Interviews conducted by the BBC with multiple residents reveal a community living in fear, often too scared to leave their hotels, and feeling increasingly isolated from the communities they hope to join.
Living in a State of Fear
John (not his real name), who fled persecution in Tanzania and has been living in a Surrey hotel for three years, stated that the protests have had a profound psychological impact. “The protests really scare me,” he said. “Each of us is very afraid to leave.” He emphasized that the situation is particularly distressing for the children living in the hotels.
Though his own hotel has not yet been protested, the news of demonstrations elsewhere has been enough to create a climate of fear. He expressed dismay that people forget asylum seekers have escaped severe challenges in their home countries.
Calls for Faster Processing and Integration
A common plea from those interviewed is for the Home Office to process applications more swiftly. John, like many others, is eager to work and contribute. “We are here for peace and to establish normal lives,” he said. “We want to work hard.”
Most asylum seekers are not allowed to work while their claims are processed. They receive a weekly allowance of £9.95 if meals are provided, or £49.18 to cover all living costs if they are self-catering, according to official government guidelines [Internal link: asylum-support-rates].
The government has stated it is working to reduce its reliance on hotels. A Home Office spokesperson said, “From a peak of more than 400 asylum hotels in the summer of 2023, there are now fewer than 210.” They reiterated a commitment to close all asylum hotels by the end of this parliament.
Beyond Protests: Claims of Poor Conditions
For some, concerns extend beyond the protests outside. Maryam (a pseudonym), a South Asian woman in a Sussex hotel, claims conditions inside are poor and that she has experienced disrespectful treatment. “There is systematic racial abuse. Your rights are not respected,” she alleged, also reporting that her room was “dirty and damp.”
Samia, an asylum seeker from Tanzania in East Sussex, described “very cramped” conditions and sometimes receiving rotten food, which she says is making her physically weaker. The protests, she says, make her feel “unwelcome” and force her to relive past trauma.
The Context of the Protests
The tension stems from a combination of factors, including a large backlog of asylum applications and a shortage of suitable long-term housing, which has led to a “much larger reliance” on hotels since 2020, as noted by the University of Oxford’s Migration Observatory.
Recent protests, such as one in Horley, Surrey, were sparked by specific incidents, including a criminal conviction of a hotel resident. Protesters have expressed concerns about community safety and cultural differences.
Counter-demonstrations have also been held in defense of asylum seekers’ rights. Those inside the hotels urge understanding. “They believe we are taking resources… which is not true. Most of us came because our lives were in danger,” Samia said. “We are not your enemy.”
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