Legal News
Private landlords to face five-year jail sentence for not evicting failed asylum seekers (4 August 2015)
Date: 04/08/2015
The government has announced that private sector landlords who do not evict failed asylum seekers will face a prison sentence of five years.
The measure is part of the government’s initiatives to strengthen immigration law – and make sure failed asylum seekers and those in the UK illegally are not able to access housing and welfare benefits.
The move has been promoted by large numbers of migrants gathering at Calais and trying to cross to the UK illegally.
The changes may also remove access to welfare benefits for migrants’ families while their asylum application is being heard.
Potentially this would leave many families with no financial support – currently, a £5 daily emergency payment is available to some migrants.
It is hoped the further limiting of benefits will deter migrants from trying to reach the UK from Calais.
Under the Dublin agreement, asylum seekers should claim asylum in the first EU country they reach – however, many wish to come to the UK to settle and deny they are seeking benefits and housing.
Many migrants from Africa and the Middle East speak English – and some already have family here.
Jobs and educational opportunities in the UK are also thought to be among the reasons migrants are determined to make the journey to the UK in the backs of lorries crossing from Calais.
It is estimated that seven out of every ten migrants at Calais will reach the UK – approximately 3,500 out of the current estimated 5,000 migrants waiting to cross the Channel to England.
In June, the Royal Navy estimated that there were 500,000 refugees waiting to cross from Libya to the Italian and Greek coastlines. During its operation in the Mediterranean, HMS Bulwark helped to rescue thousands of migrants stranded at sea and bring them to Europe.
Duncan Lewis Immigration Lawyers
Duncan Lewis immigration lawyers have offices nationwide and are available 24/7 to advise on urgent cases involving UK immigration law, including asylum applications and appeals.
Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of Legal Aid lawyers also able to advise on illegal entry to the UK, visa overstays and visa fraud, marriage in the UK, the Human Rights Act and the Modern Slavery Bill.
Duncan Lewis can also advise landlords on their legal obligations involving tenants who have entered the UK illegally or who are failed asylum seekers.
For expert legal advice on UK immigration law, call Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors on 020 7923 4020.
For urgent help with immigration, call the Duncan Lewis Emergency Hotline on 020 7275 2036.