.svg)
The Home Office has admitted to a significant blunder after incorrectly informing an unknown number of asylum seekers that they were being held in a pre-removal detention centre and were awaiting deportation from the UK. The error, which occurred in February of last year, caused "confusion and panic" among residents at RAF Wethersfield, a former military base now used to house asylum seekers.
In a series of misdirected letters, Home Office staff described the open accommodation site at Wethersfield as an "immigration removal centre," a designation that implies impending deportation and typically disqualifies individuals from financial aid. This incorrect classification led to an unspecified number of asylum seekers being temporarily denied crucial financial support.
Aid workers supporting the asylum seekers at Wethersfield reported widespread distress among residents, who feared they would be imminently returned to their home countries or were effectively imprisoned at the site. The stark reality is that RAF Wethersfield is not a detention centre; residents are free to come and go, their asylum claims are still pending, and they are not awaiting deportation.
One letter, seen by The i Paper, explicitly addressed to an asylum seeker at Wethersfield, stated they were "in an immigration removal centre" and presented options for voluntary return to their home country. It also rejected their request for asylum support based on their apparent detention, advising them to reapply "if you are released from detention" or apply for bail, and giving them a mere three days to appeal the incorrect decision.
This latest controversy adds to a growing list of concerns surrounding RAF Wethersfield, which has been plagued by protests, allegations of children being mistakenly held there, and a "mental health crisis" that saw ambulances called to the site an average of three times a week last year.
Immigration removal centres are distinct facilities within the UK immigration system, housing individuals under immigration law prior to deportation, often those without valid immigration status or awaiting removal after a criminal sentence. Unlike Wethersfield residents, individuals in these centres are not eligible for financial assistance, as their basic needs are considered to be met.
Home Office insiders have acknowledged the error, confirming that affected individuals were subsequently informed of the mistake and had their asylum support restored. While the exact number of asylum seekers wrongly denied support remains unclear, The i Paper understands that "multiple" cases were reported to the Home Office.
A spokesperson for the Home Office appeared to attribute the incident to the previous Conservative administration, stating that "since then, this government has begun to restore order to the asylum system."
Jon Featonby, chief policy analyst at the Refugee Council, expressed serious concern over the Home Office "confusing the status of its own asylum accommodation." He urged immediate rectification of the situation and steps to prevent future occurrences. "Trying to navigate the asylum system is stressful enough for people without errors like this creating confusion and panic," he said, emphasizing that accurate decisions at each stage of the asylum process are crucial for efficiency, cost reduction, and ensuring applicants receive appropriate support or are removed.
Steve Smith, chief executive of Care4Calais, a charity supporting asylum seekers at Wethersfield, highlighted the profound human cost of the "error." He stated that "for people seeking asylum, many of whom have survived torture and modern slavery, to receive letters categorically stating the camp is an immigration removal centre is incredibly distressing, and further inflames the ongoing mental health crisis within the camp."
Smith further criticized the Home Office, asserting that they must explain why such letters were sent, and noted how the "error" has often delayed asylum seekers from receiving their already meagre financial support. Currently, the weekly Section 95 support rate is £49.18 for most people in self-catered accommodation, with those in full-board accommodation receiving just £8.86 a week. This vital support is provided via a pre-paid debit card used for goods or cash withdrawals, with only certain groups, like pregnant women, entitled to a slightly higher amount.
