Failed asylum seekers must work says Blunkett
The Home Secretary has put forward proposals that would require failed asylum seekers to undertake community work.
They would affect individuals who are refused asylum but for whom it is judged too dangerous to return them immediately to their home countries.
The proposals come within a host of amendments to the 2002 Asylum and Immigration Act.
David Blunkett has also tabled measures that would speed up court proceedings to remove British citizenship, restrict social housing entitlements so that refugees can only stay where they are dispersed to, and to stop the current practice of back paying income support to successful asylum applicants and replace it with a loan system.
Also included are plans to tackle “false marriages” by requiring applicants from outside the EEA to prove they are in the UK legally before registering a marriage.
Announcing the reforms, Mr Blunkett said: “These measures, the product of detailed work over several months, strengthen in important ways the package of reforms contained in the Bill.
“They will prevent abuse of our immigration laws, while underlining our commitment to providing support to refugees so that they can make a full contribution to the British way of life.
“I remain committed to providing a safe haven to those fleeing persecution and helping refugees to integrate and contribute to our society.
“People who have been granted refugee status, citizenship or are being supported by the taxpayer must recognise that with these rights come responsibilities and support to those unable to return must be dependent on them giving something back to the community.”
David Davis, Conservative home affairs spokesman, said the plans were no more than “panic measures being rushed out by a government with one eye on the local elections.”
He added: “This is entirely characteristic of Labour’s incompetent and shambolic approach to asylum and immigration issues.”
Mark Oaten, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said the proposals were tantamount to treating innocent people like criminals.
“Community service is for people who have committed crimes, not for people who have failed in their asylum claim.
“If individuals cannot be deported through no fault of their own they should be allowed to do paid work.
“If the government really wants to reduce the benefits bill they should allow all asylum seekers to work for a decent wage while their applications are pending,” said Mr Oaten.
The Refugee Council also raised strong objections to the plans. Its head of policy, Bharti Patel, said: “We think it is mean and counterproductive to stop the back payment being made to people recognised as refugees.
“These are people who may have arrived in the UK with nothing more than the clothes on their back.”
