Americans and Aussies Now Claiming Asylum in the UK – Has Britain Become a ‘Soft Touch’?
It turns out Britain is now seeing asylum claims from some rather unexpected places. New Home Office figures show that citizens from countries like the US, Australia, and parts of Europe and Scandinavia are applying for asylum in the UK—yes.
Among the 108,000 asylum applications lodged in 2024 were 99 from the United States, 22 from Italy, 20 from Portugal, 17 from France, and 10 from Australia. While those numbers might seem small compared to claims from war-torn countries like Syria or Afghanistan, they’ve raised a few eyebrows and sparked fresh debate, reported the Daily Mail.
Critics argue it’s a sign the UK’s asylum system has become far too lenient. Robert Bates from the Centre for Migration Control didn’t hold back: “Our asylum system is far too generous and is one of the most easily accessible in the world. It is incapable of weeding out individuals who are simply economic migrants who are chancing their arm.”
Others question how applicants from places with stable governments and strong human rights records could genuinely qualify for protection. Bates added: “If they were genuine asylum seekers, then they would have no qualms in resettling somewhere closer to their homeland… But Britain is now seen as the land of milk and honey.”
Officially, to be granted asylum in the UK, a person must show they can’t live safely in their home country due to a well-founded fear of persecution. That could be based on race, religion, political opinion, or personal identity.
Still, only a fraction of these eyebrow-raising applications get approved. For instance, 13 of the 99 US asylum applications in 2024 were granted. Most came from places like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Bangladesh, and Syria—countries that together made up 38% of all claims.
The number of asylum seekers arriving by small boats has also exploded. Nearly a third of all claims now come via that route, with many paying thousands to criminal gangs for the dangerous crossing.
Britain’s asylum bill has ballooned to £5.4 billion annually, including housing costs and support for applicants. That’s a massive jump from around £732 million just a few years ago.
As cases pile up, concerns are mounting—not just about costs, but about whether the system is fair, sustainable, or even functioning properly. Migration Watch UK’s Alp Mehmet summed it up: “The system is not only a huge cost to the taxpayer but also not fit for purpose.” With applications still rising and public trust faltering, the question remains: how did we get here, and what happens next?
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