Locals protest in West Drayton, England, against the number of migrants staying in local hotels. Credit line: – / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
Asylum seekers in the UK may have to hand over jewelery or other valuables to cover the costs of processing their cases, a Home Office minister has announced, The Guardian reports.
Statements made on Monday by Alex Norris, Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum, provide new details of changes to migration policy which could cause concern among Labor MPs.
Norris said that while this will not involve confiscating wedding rings, jewelry without sentimental value could be confiscated.
The idea was taken from Denmark's tough approach to asylum by Shabana Mahmood, the British Home Secretary, in a bid to reduce the number of refugees coming to Britain.
While Mahmood presented the changes as the only way to ward off the “dark forces stirring up anger” over migration, a number of Labor MPs are known to disagree with some of the ideas, with at least one minister on the verge of resigning, The Guardian notes.
But Norris, who is a member of the Labor Party, defended the confiscation of valuables from refugees.
“The British public are currently paying billions of pounds a year so that asylum seekers or those who have had their applications rejected can get accommodation and living support. It's only right that these people contribute if they have money in the bank, if they have assets like cars or e-bikes. No, we're not going to confiscate their inheritance at the border. But… people have cars. People have e-bikes. These are assets they should contribute to the cost of social benefits,” Norris told Sky News.
Asked if engagement rings could be included, Norris said: “In the case you're talking about, no, of course not. If someone comes in with a bag full of gold rings, well, that's different than what I said about family items.”
Norris also said that countries that refuse to take back their asylum-seeking citizens could be subject to diplomatic sanctions, such as visa restrictions. It would include Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo as possible targets.
“There are a significant number of people who have been through this system – they came to this country, their asylum claim was rejected, they appealed, the appeal was rejected and now they are in taxpayer-funded housing with no prospects. It is terrible for these people, for all of us,” the British minister added.
Mahmood confirmed on Sunday that refugees could be returned if their country is no longer considered dangerous, with their status reviewed every 30 months, including for families with young school-going children.
