Nearly 42,000 asylum seekers in the UK are stuck in limbo as they await appeal hearings after their initial claims were rejected by the Home Office.
This figure reflects a dramatic five-fold rise in just two years, according to an analysis by the Refugee Council.
The surge in appeals comes as the government intensifies efforts to speed up initial decisions on asylum claims. However, critics argue that tougher immigration laws, such as the Nationality and Borders Act, have made it more difficult for genuine refugees to secure protection. For instance, while most Afghan asylum seekers were previously granted refuge, only 40% received approval in the latter half of 2024.
With nearly 40,000 migrants still living in hotels due to the backlog, the Refugee Council warns that the cost of accommodation could reach £1.5 billion this year. The charity is calling for more accurate and fair decision-making to ensure that those who qualify for asylum are given safety, while those who don’t are treated with dignity during removal.
The Home Office defends its approach, stating that it has doubled the number of decisions made and allocated funds for additional court sittings to tackle the appeals backlog. The government claims that these efforts will save taxpayers an estimated £4 billion over the next two years.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the number of pending appeals rose from 7,173 at the start of 2023 to 41,987 by the end of 2024. The Refugee Council’s analysis also reveals a 71% increase in the total number of appeals lodged last year compared to 2023.
The situation raises concerns that the government’s strategy is simply shifting the asylum crisis from one part of the system to another, leaving thousands of vulnerable people in uncertainty.